Trump says he offered Dana White press secretary job

President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had offered the vacant White House press secretary job to Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was unclear whether White had accepted — or whether Trump intended the offer as a serious appointment.

“I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. He closed the post with an appeal: “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”

Trump also said he wanted White to bring several UFC figures as assistants. His list included Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harris. Some, he wrote, were “not from our Country.” Trump said, “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left.”

White shared an image of himself at the White House press briefing room podium on his Instagram story with the caption, “On to the next chapter,” CBS News reported. The post did not establish whether he had accepted the job. CBS said reporting from at least one media outlet suggested Trump’s announcement might have been tongue-in-cheek. NBC News also said it was unclear whether the offer was serious.

CBS said it had contacted the White House and UFC for comment. A White House spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC.

The press secretary position has been vacant since October, after conservative commentator Katie Zacharia left the role five days into the job. CBS reported that she was removed on Oct. 16. Zacharia had replaced Karoline Leavitt, who stepped aside in August, saying she wanted to spend more time with her young family. Leavitt had served as press secretary since Trump returned to office in January of last year, according to NBC.

Trump and White have been friends for years. White, the UFC’s CEO and president, has long supported Trump and attended his inauguration, CBS reported. NBC said Trump has attended many UFC fights while serving in the White House.

Their ties were on display in July, when the White House hosted a UFC event on the South Lawn as part of commemorations of the United States’ 250th anniversary. White organized the event, according to NBC, which reported that many administration officials and Republican lawmakers attended. CBS said it coincided with Trump’s 80th birthday and described the league White runs as valued at more than $15 billion.

The announcement followed a midterm election in which Democrats took control of both the House and Senate, CBS reported. It also came a day after another White House personnel change: Chief of staff Susie Wiles said Friday that she would step down, and Trump named longtime aide Stephen Miller to replace her, according to NBC.