Dana White next White House press secretary? UFC boss set to meet President on Monday
White confirms Monday meeting with President Trump but says he already has many jobs
Quick Look
- President Donald Trump offered UFC CEO Dana White the White House press secretary role via social media.
- White, 57, confirmed he will meet Trump in Washington, D.C. on Monday but joked he already has many jobs.
- Trump also offered assistant roles to several UFC fighters.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Dana White joined UFC in 2001 after his business partners with Zuffa purchased the promotion. He is also the face of Zuffa Boxing and Power Slap under TKO Group Holdings. Trump hosted White's debut UFC event at Trump Taj Mahal casino in 2001 and the two formed a friendship. White gave speeches supporting Trump at the Republican National Convention ahead of all three of his election cycles between 2016 and 2024.
President Donald Trump offered UFC CEO and president Dana White the role of White House press secretary on Saturday via social media. While a move seems unlikely, White confirmed Saturday that he is set to travel to Washington, D.C. for a meeting with POTUS on Monday, but he offered no further details.
"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, further listing a variety of current and former UFC athletes he hoped would join White as assistants, "even though some are not from our Country."
White, 57, first played into speculation about the job offer with an AI-generated meme he posted on his Instagram stories shortly after the offer. It included a caption, "On to the next chapter."
In a press conference following Zuffa Boxing 12 in London on Saturday, White said he has a meeting scheduled with the President on Monday.
"I got a lot of jobs already," White joked. "... I'm sure we'll have something to talk about after [the meeting]."
Trump had extended assistant roles to Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison.
White, who joined UFC in 2001 after his business partners with Zuffa purchased the promotion, is also the face of two other combat sports brands under the TKO Group Holdings banner, Zuffa Boxing and Power Slap.
If appointed, White would replace Katie Zacharia, who was dismissed after serving five days as press secretary in October. Karoline Leavitt, who held the role before Zacharia, stepped down in August to focus on family.
As a former fight promoter, casino magnate and long-time fan of combat sports, Trump helped make sports history in June when he hosted the UFC Freedom 250 event on the south lawn of the White House.
Trump hosted White's debut event as UFC president at his Trump Taj Mahal casino in 2001, and the two formed a friendship. In 2018, Trump hosted White and UFC champion Colby Covington at the White House during his first presidential term and later became a regular guest at UFC events as a sitting president.
White also gave speeches in support of Trump at the Republican National Convention ahead of all three of his election cycles between 2016 and 2024.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Dana White will meet with President Trump on Monday in Washington, D.C.
Very likely · Within days
Dana White will decline the press secretary role
Likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will Dana White accept the press secretary role?
- What will be discussed at the Monday meeting between White and Trump?
- Which UFC athletes, if any, will accept assistant roles?
- Who will replace Katie Zacharia if White declines?
