USA, Trump: "Dana White head of press office? I was joking"

The idea launched by the White House number one on Truth had raised questions due to the strong bond between the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and the president and the administration's delicate relationship with the media

US President Donald Trump made it clear that his proposal to entrust the role of White House spokesperson to Dana White (head of the martial arts league Ultimate Fighting Championship) was actually a joke. However, the US president's exit has reignited the debate on the choice of the future public face of the administration, after the recent resignation of spokeswoman Katie Zacharia.

Trump's joke

Speaking to journalists on the tarmac of the Florida airport that bears his name, Trump explained that he had not made a real proposal: "I was just joking, but Dana really likes the idea", declared the president, thus reducing the uncertainties that arose over the weekend after his message on social media. The position of White House spokesperson has in fact been vacant since October 16, when Katie Zacharia left the role less than a week after taking office.

The post on Truth

The reactions were triggered by a post published by Trump on Truth, in which he openly invited Dana White to take office. In the message the president wrote that he had asked the head of the UFC to "bring collaborators with him", adding that the administration would need these people "to defend us from the crazy left". Finally, the direct appeal: "Dana, please accept the assignment."

An unusual choice

Dana White has long been one of Trump's most loyal supporters and has repeatedly publicly supported the Republican president. Despite the consolidated relationship between the two, his possible appointment as head of White House communications would have been considered particularly unusual. In fact, the UFC president has no direct experience in the role and would have found himself managing a particularly delicate relationship with the press at a time when tensions between the Trump administration and many US media remain high.