In brief
In Washington, President Donald Trump said on Sunday he was only kidding about appointing UFC president Dana White as his press secretary, after a satirical post on Truth Social featuring fighters’ photos. Trump explained the joke to reporters, noting the post was not a formal offer. The comment came shortly after Dana White’s high-profile appearance in political circles.
In Washington, President Donald Trump told reporters on November 8 that he had been joking about naming UFC president and CEO Dana White as his next White House press secretary. He clarified that the remark was a satirical post on his Truth Social account, which had included photographs of prominent fighters as part of the joke.
The comment first surfaced when Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he had “offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States” to White. Trump wrote, “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 … Dana, please take the job!” The post also asked White to bring assistants, joking that some were not from the country.
When questioned by news outlets, Trump said, “I was only kidding.” He explained that the photographs of fighters were part of a comedic premise and not an actual hiring offer. The president also noted that the tweet—getting top headlines worldwide—was meant to amuse his followers rather than appoint a real candidate.
“I was only kidding,” Trump said.
His statement came a day after a brief, five‑day tenure by former White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, who left the post two weeks into the administration. According to the Washington Post, Trump said that “Dana loves the idea” but that nothing was official. The Post noted that the comment was “just kidding.” Likewise, CTV News reported that Trump said “I was just kidding” about the offer, amplifying the humor that circulated on social media.
The Guardian attempted to publish a story on the same day but the link was broken and the article could not be retrieved. Nevertheless, the Guardian reported that Trump had called the offer “metaphorical” and that the post was received by many of his supporters as a light‑hearted moment amid a busy political calendar.
In the broader context, the joke drew on Trump’s history of using social media to mix politics and entertainment. He famously promoted an MMA fighter as a spokesman earlier in his presidency, and the comparison to Dana White continued that tradition. The satire also mimicked campaign rhetoric—calling White a “violent fighter” and “warrior”—echoing Trump’s characteristic braggadocio.
White himself has not issued a public response to the claim. The UFC, which has been involved in various political discussions, has not announced any intentions to engage with the White House. No official press release has been issued by the administration regarding a new press secretary.
For now, the comment remains a social‑media gaffe rather than a policy change. Both the White House and UFC have remained silent on the situation. However, observers note that statements like Trump’s—especially from a former president—continue to shape public discourse and may influence how political promoters and entertainers are perceived in future campaigns.
As the day unfolded, mainstream outlets like Xinhua, The Washington Post, and CTV News continued to cover the story, all noting that Trump “was only kidding” and that the offer was never formal. The incident escalated on Twitter, where users posted memes of White heading to a press briefing in a combat uniform. The satire thread lasted several hours before gradually fading from the feed.
Meanwhile, the press secretary’s office has not made a formal announcement about a new appointment. The White House maintains its standard practices for hiring leadership, and numerous other political figures have traded words with the audience as part of speculation. Until an official appointment is made, the story continues to hinge on Trump’s own wording—“only kidding”—and the visual humor of the posted fighter photos.
