President Donald Trump stunned political observers Saturday after announcing on Truth Social that he had offered UFC CEO Dana White the position of White House press secretary, proposing an extraordinary shakeup that would bring some of mixed martial arts’ biggest names into his administration.
In the unusual announcement, Trump praised White’s toughness and urged the longtime UFC executive to accept the position.
“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.
But the president did not stop there.
Trump also proposed that White bring several prominent UFC personalities to Washington as assistants, naming Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harris.
The president even acknowledged that some of the individuals he mentioned were not American citizens.
“I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country,” Trump wrote before listing the names.
The announcement took an even more unconventional turn when Trump explained why he wanted the fighters involved in his administration.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” the president declared.
The remarks immediately raised questions about whether Trump was seriously considering the UFC executive for one of the White House’s most prominent communications positions or making a humorous appeal to his longtime ally.
The president’s language, particularly his description of White as a fighter and his proposal to surround him with professional mixed martial artists, suggested the announcement could have been intended partly in jest.
Nevertheless, the message was published directly on Trump’s Truth Social account.
White has maintained a longstanding relationship with Trump, making the UFC executive a recognizable figure within the president’s political circle.
The proposed position would place White at the center of the administration’s daily interactions with the national press.
As White House press secretary, he would be responsible for communicating the administration’s positions, responding to questions from reporters and representing the president’s messaging before the public.
It would also represent a substantial departure from his career overseeing one of the world’s most prominent mixed martial arts organizations.
The proposed assistants, meanwhile, are best known for their accomplishments inside the octagon rather than their experience in government communications.
Trump did not elaborate on what responsibilities the fighters would assume if White accepted the offer.
The announcement comes during a turbulent period at the White House following the Republican Party’s major setbacks in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Trump recently announced that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House chief of staff, marking a significant leadership change as the administration prepares for the final two years of his presidency.
The president has also indicated that additional personnel changes could be forthcoming.
However, Saturday’s Truth Social post did not specify whether the proposed role for White represented a formal personnel decision or a playful public invitation.
Trump concluded his message by expressing enthusiasm for the possibility of White joining the administration.
“Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!” he wrote.
The president did not announce that White had accepted the offer.
For now, Trump’s message has introduced one of the most unconventional potential White House appointments of his presidency, although whether the UFC executive will actually take the job remains unclear.
