Trump says he wants UFC chief Dana White as White House press secretary
US President suggested that the UFC CEO take fighters as assistants to the administration
Quick Look
- President Donald Trump has tapped UFC CEO Dana White to serve as White House press secretary.
- Trump also suggested the inclusion of MMA fighters in the team, aiming for political defense against the opposition.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
The position of White House press secretary is vacant following the departure of Katie Zacharia. Dana White and Trump have a long-standing relationship that began at MMA events in the 2000s.
United States President Donald Trump said on Saturday (7) that he invited UFC CEO Dana White to take on the role of White House press secretary. The Republican said he asked him to take fighters as assistants, "even though some are not" Americans.
Dana White, businessman and mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter, is a "violent fighter and warrior," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
The president also invited six current or former UFC champions to join White, including two athletes from the Russian region of Dagestan, Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov; Americans Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and "Kayla Harris", probably a reference to Kayla Harrison; and Amanda Nunes, a Brazilian who became a United States citizen last year.
“We need these people to defend us from the lunatic left,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
During a press conference this Saturday in London, after a boxing event, White said he would meet with Trump at the White House on Monday (9).
The position of White House press secretary has been vacant since Katie Zacharia's term ended last month, after less than a week in the role. Zacharia replaced Karoline Leavitt, who left the role at the end of August.
White and Trump first worked together in the early 2000s when Trump's Taj Mahal casino hosted some UFC events. But the two have become closer allies since the UFC leader publicly declared support for Trump's presidential campaign in 2016.
In recent years, Trump has attended several UFC events, and in June, the White House hosted a UFC fight night as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The White House press office already has a former UFC spokesperson: White House communications director Steven Cheung, who worked for White's organization from 2013 to 2016.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Meeting between Dana White and Donald Trump on Monday (9).
Very likely · Within days
Open Questions
- Will Dana White formally accept the invitation?
- Which fighters will be part of the team?
