Trump says Dana White press secretary offer was a joke

Donald Trump said he was “only kidding” when he offered the White House press secretary job to UFC chief Dana White, according to Deadline and The Guardian.

Trump made the offer via social media on Saturday, calling White the “Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior,” Deadline reported. Speaking to reporters on the tarmac in Washington, DC, Trump said: “Dana loves the idea. There’s only one Dana. You wouldn’t mess around with him so much.”

“So, I was kidding, of course,” Trump said. “I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea and he’s a very capable guy,” Trump laughed.

Trump explained the premise of the joke to reporters, saying that if White took over the briefing room flanked by fighters, reporters “wouldn’t mess around with him so much,” The Guardian reported. “Of course, I was kidding. And you could see that because I put all of the great fighters as his assistants, that they’re all going to come with him … It was just a little fun,” Trump said.

White, who has multiple jobs, quipped in response: “I’ve got a lot of jobs already,” Deadline reported. On November 7, White posted a picture of himself behind the White House press room with the text: “On to the next chapter.” CNN reported that White declined the offer, according to Deadline.

Trump confirmed that White is coming to the White House on Monday. “So he’s actually coming tomorrow,” Trump said. “But he’s actually coming tomorrow. Actually, for another reasons, I think he’s going to be in Washington, so he’s going to come and see me.”

The press secretary role has been vacant since Karoline Leavitt left in August and Katie Zacharia lasted five days, Deadline reported. The Guardian said the role has been vacant for three weeks since Zacharia was forced to resign.

Trump also shared an AI-created cartoon showing White as press secretary with UFC fighters as assistants. The cartoon ends with Trump entering a destroyed and burning press room, with cartoon Dana telling Trump: “Fiery…but mostly peaceful,” Deadline reported.

The Guardian reported that the cartoon showed UFC fighters beating up journalists and one, Josh Hokit, repeating a racist remark about Michelle Obama that Hokit made during the UFC event at the White House on Trump’s birthday in June.

Trump concluded: “That was an example of something where I was kidding and people said, ‘That’s a pretty good idea.’”

Sources

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.