‘Zero political aspirations’: UFC chief Dana White responds to Trump’s White House job offer

UFC CEO Dana White on Monday ruled out taking up the vacant White House press secretary position, saying he had “zero political aspirations”, after US President Donald Trump jokingly suggested that he could take on the role. “I have zero political aspirations,” White told reporters from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room podium, according to CBS News, putting to rest speculation about a possible move into the Trump administration. White, 56, has headed the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) for more than two decades and is a longtime ally of Trump. He played a prominent role in mobilising support for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign and has frequently appeared alongside the president at public events and rallies. Their association has also extended to UFC events, including one held on White House grounds earlier this year. The clarification came after Trump said on Monday that he was “only kidding” when he floated White's name for the vacant press secretary position. “I will tell you, I was only kidding,” the president told reporters, adding that he had posted pictures of prominent UFC fighters as potential members of White's media team as part of the joke. The speculation began over the weekend when Trump announced on Truth Social that White had been approached for the high-profile communications job. Sharing an AI-generated image of the UFC chief standing behind the White House briefing podium, Trump urged him to accept the position. “Dana, please take the job!” Trump wrote, describing White as a “violent fighter and warrior” and suggesting that he bring in active and retired UFC champions as assistants. “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other,” he added. The post triggered confusion on social media, with some users claiming Trump mistook White for former Pentagon spokesperson Dana W White. The latter addressed the mix-up in a LinkedIn post, thanking people for their messages while clarifying that she was not being considered for the position. “I've stood at the podium and taken questions from the Pentagon press corps. I have never stood in an octagon. I'd like to keep it that way,” she wrote, referring to the cage used in mixed martial arts bouts. According to CNN, an insider familiar with the matter said White had rejected the unconventional offer, while a White House aide confirmed that Trump's suggestion was made in jest. The White House press secretary position has been vacant since Katie Zacharia was dismissed in October, following a tumultuous first press briefing. She had taken over after Karoline Leavitt's departure in August.