On Saturday, President Donald Trump offered the White House press secretary job to UFC CEO Dana White, but White has officially declined the offer, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
“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 posted Saturday on Truth Social.
Trump said he requested White bring “assistants,” listing six UFC fighters and posting their photos alongside the announcement.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!” Trump added.
White House communications director Steven Cheung reposted the president’s message, adding, “Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!”
However, as reported above, White has turned it down:
Update: Dana White has since declined, according to a CNN report. https://t.co/2G0BabXyW5
— ESPN (@espn) November 7, 2026
White has spent years as one of Trump’s most visible allies, speaking at the last three Republican National Conventions and helping the GOP make inroads with the young male voters key to Trump’s return to the White House.
“He introduced me to people I never heard of, young kids,” Trump said of White earlier this year. “I mean, I was being interviewed by 20-year-old kids. I’m saying, ‘Where the hell did you meet these people?’ They’re called influencers.”
Young men, however, began slipping away from Trump, who has faced mounting criticism from some of the figures, such as podcaster Joe Rogan, who helped introduce him to new audiences in 2024.
The president hosted a UFC fight on the White House lawn this summer, part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations, as he sought to appeal to those male voters. Those efforts didn’t pay off, as the demographic shifted toward Democrats in Tuesday’s midterms, helping the party win majorities in both chambers of Congress.
Trump has signaled more staffing changes could be on the way. On Friday, he ousted his longtime chief of staff Susie Wiles and replaced her with Stephen Miller, one of his most hardline and loyal aides, who will take over the role starting Monday.
