Who is UFC boss Dana White who gets surprising offer from Donald Trump to be White House press secretary?

President Donald Trump announced that he asked Dana White to become his press secretary.

US President Donald Trump has offered Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief executive Dana White the job of White House press secretary, urging his longtime friend and political ally to accept the position. The offer comes after the departure of Karoline Leavitt and the exceptionally brief tenure of her successor, Katie Zacharia. Trump announced the offer in a post on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, November 7, describing White as a “violent Fighter and Warrior”. The president also suggested that White bring several UFC fighters to the White House as his assistants, naming Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harrison. “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 wrote. It was not immediately clear whether White would accept the offer. Trump did not provide details about when White might take up the position.

Dana, please take the job, President Donald Trump said, offering the UFC boss the job of the press secretary.

What happened to Karoline Leavitt?

Leavitt was the first press secretary of Trump's second administration, taking up the position when he returned to the White House in January 2025. She announced her departure in August 2026, after the birth of her second child in May. Leavitt said she wanted to spend more time with her family. She left the White House on August 27 and subsequently joined Fox News as a contributor.

Katie Zacharia's five-day stint

Trump announced on October 9 that Katie Zacharia, then a senior communications adviser at Trump Media & Technology Group, would replace Leavitt. Zacharia had previously worked in the Department of Homeland Security's public affairs office and appeared as a conservative commentator on Fox News and Newsmax. She had also been involved in Trump's political campaigns. However, her tenure lasted only five days. She began work on October 12 and was out by October 16, after delivering just one press briefing. Reports said Trump had urged her to reconsider the position following criticism of her first briefing and questions about her professional credentials. Trump said he was in no hurry to appoint another press secretary.

Who is Dana White?

White, 56, has been the face of the UFC since taking over as its president in 2001. He helped turn mixed martial arts into a global sporting phenomenon and is known for his outspoken personality. He has been a longtime supporter and friend of Trump, appearing at Republican political events and speaking at the Republican National Convention. Trump has also regularly attended UFC events. White's possible move to the White House would be a major departure from his career in sports promotion. The press secretary is responsible for communicating the administration's positions, answering questions from journalists and defending the president's policies. Trump's public offer, however, does not amount to a confirmed appointment. White has yet to publicly say whether he intends to take the job.