President Donald Trump walked back his previous offer on Sunday, telling reporters he was "only joking" about appointing UFC CEO Dana White as White House press secretary. The offer had been announced on Truth Social on Saturday, with White initially saying he would travel to Washington, D.C. to discuss the position. Trump downplayed the remarks but confirmed White would still visit the capital on other business. The press secretary role has been vacant since Katie Zacharia's brief five-day tenure ended in October.
Trump's relationship with White runs deep, with the UFC CEO serving as a prominent supporter at Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024. This alliance led to the UFC hosting a live event on the White House South Lawn for Trump's 80th birthday in June. In addition to White, Trump mentioned several UFC fighters in his initial offer, including former champions Khabib Nurmagomedov, Amanda Nunes, Daniel Cormier, and Justin Gaethje.
ESPN reporter Brett Okamoto, a mixed martial arts specialist since 2010, has covered the sport's biggest names including Khabib, Conor McGregor, and Floyd Mayweather. Okamoto was also a producer on the 30 for 30 film "Chuck and Tito," chronicling the Liddell-Ortiz rivalry. Trump joked that White "wouldn't mess around" with the position, suggesting the offer was more playful than serious.
Source: ESPN General · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing