UFC President Dana White officially declined President Donald Trump’s tongue-in-cheek offer to become the White House press secretary during a joint press briefing in Washington, D.C. The interaction concluded a strange weekend narrative that began when Trump posted on Truth Social suggesting the open role, only to clarify the next day that he was “only kidding, but Dana loves the idea.” By Monday, the two men put the speculation to rest in front of reporters, with White firmly stating, “Thank you for the offer, sir. I do not want to be in politics.”
UFC CEO turns down White House offer during joint briefing, ending bizarre social media saga.
The exchange highlighted the distinct boundary between the entertainment world and federal administration, as Trump pressed the point with characteristic humor. “So let me ask you the big question. Dana, would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America,” Trump asked, gesturing to the backdrop. “Look at the sign — you’d have this behind all the time, ‘The White House, Washington.’ Would you like that or do you just want to stay with this ridiculous UFC?” White’s immediate refusal prompted Trump to respond, “I am devastated to hear this. Goodbye, everyone,” effectively closing the segment of the briefing.
This incident underscores the continued crossover between major sports figures and political leadership, even if the roles remain strictly separate. White’s brief appearance allowed him to address reporters directly before Trump elaborated on how the peculiar situation originated. While the offer was clearly satirical, the public nature of the exchange serves as a reminder of the high-profile visibility UFC maintains within the U.S. political sphere, with White’s definitive “no” ensuring he remains focused on his duties as the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
Source: Yahoo Sports
