White House Staffing: Dana White to Meet Trump Over Press Secretary Role
The UFC commissioner plans to discuss the offer with the president on Monday, following the GOP's loss of congressional control in the midterm elections.
By Chinedu Schneider ·
UFC President Dana White will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss an offer for the role of press secretary. White confirmed the meeting while in London on Saturday, stating he would travel to Washington immediately after a boxing event to speak with the president. The announcement comes after Trump posted on Truth Social from his golf club in Florida, formally extending the offer to the fight promoter. Trump described White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior" and urged him to accept the position, asking him to bring along several UFC fighters to serve as assistants. The president claimed these fighters would help defend the administration against the "Lunatic Left." White shared the post on Instagram, captioning it "On to the next chapter" alongside a photo of himself at the White House podium. When asked how he would balance the new role with his existing duties in the fighting industry, White responded that he already has many jobs. He declined to detail previous conversations with Trump, saying he would have more to say after their meeting.
The offer arrives during a period of significant staff turnover at the White House. The post of press secretary has been vacant since Karoline Leavitt departed at the end of August. The administration recently tested a new candidate, Katie Zacharia, who left the position after five days following a single uncomfortable appearance before reporters. This staffing challenge coincides with the Republican Party's deep losses in Tuesday's midterm elections. Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress, reclaiming districts that Republicans had held for decades. Trump announced on Friday that he was replacing longtime adviser Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller as the next chief of staff. Miller is known for architecting the administration's hard-line immigration policies. White has described ambitions to expand his Zuffa Boxing organization with Saudi Arabian backers, though he did not clarify if he was seriously considering becoming the president's primary spokesperson.
The relationship between the two men has strengthened since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. The president has attended several UFC events with White during this period. In June, Trump invited White and the sport to the White House South Lawn for a celebration marking the nation's 250th anniversary of independence and Trump's own 80th birthday. A wire-mesh Octagon was built near the residence under a structure called "The Claw." White called the event a one-of-one experience. He has also spoken at Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Neither the White House nor a UFC spokesperson responded to messages on Saturday regarding the social media post.
The meeting is scheduled for Monday at the White House. White will travel from London to Washington for the conversation. The outcome of the discussion will determine if the UFC commissioner steps into the vacant spokesperson role.
