Trump offers Dana White the White House press secretary job

Nov 7, 2026

On November 7, 2026, President Donald Trump announced he offered UFC CEO Dana White the job of White House press secretary, urging him to bring six MMA fighters as assistants. The offer follows White House shake-ups, including appointing Stephen Miller as chief of staff, after Democrats won both congressional chambers in the midterm elections. White, a longtime Trump ally, posted an image at the White House press podium, though neither party officially confirmed the appointment.

Trump offers Dana White press secretary role

▪President Donald Trump requested that Dana White bring six mixed martial arts fighters—Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harrison—as White House press assistants
▪President Donald Trump stated in his social media post that he requested mixed martial arts fighters as assistants to defend against what he termed the 'Lunatic Left.'
▪On November 7, 2026, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he offered Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White the position of White House press secretary

Reactions to the press secretary offer

▪Neither the White House nor Ultimate Fighting Championship representatives provided immediate official confirmation or comment regarding Donald Trump's offer on November 7, 2026
▪White House communications director Steven Cheung reposted President Donald Trump's message on November 7, 2026, publicly encouraging Dana White to accept the press secretary position
▪Dana White shared an Instagram story showing himself behind the White House press briefing podium captioned 'On to the next chapter.'

Recent turnover in White House press office

▪Katie Zacharia replaced Karoline Leavitt, who served as White House press secretary for 19 months before resigning in August 2026
▪The White House press secretary post became vacant after Katie Zacharia was fired in October 2026 following five days in the role and a single 14-minute press briefing

Midterm election results lead to staff changes

▪Democratic candidates won majorities in both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate during the November 3, 2026 midterm elections
▪On November 6, 2026, President Donald Trump announced he was replacing White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with aide Stephen Miller following Democratic victories in the midterm elections

Trump and Dana White's long history

▪President Donald Trump and Dana White's relationship began in 2001 when Trump permitted the Ultimate Fighting Championship to host UFC 30 at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City
▪Dana White spoke on Donald Trump's behalf at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024
▪In June 2026, President Donald Trump hosted an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House South Lawn to commemorate America's 250th anniversary and his 80th birthday