Trump says he was joking about making UFC chief Dana White his press secretary
Dana White is still due at the White House on Monday, Trump said, for other reasons, and the press secretary job stays vacant.
President Donald Trump said on Sunday, Nov. 8, that he was "only kidding" when he floated Dana White, chief executive of the UFC, as his next White House press secretary. He spoke to reporters as he left West Palm Beach, Florida. The idea came in a Truth Social post that called White "a violent Fighter and Warrior" and named several current or former UFC fighters as assistants who would "defend us against the Lunatic Left."
Trump said White "loves the idea" but that he himself had not been serious. White is due at the White House on Monday, and Trump said the meeting is planned for other reasons. At a news conference in London, White had said "I got a lot of jobs already."
The press secretary job has been empty since Katie Zacharia's five-day tenure ended in October. She followed Karoline Leavitt, who left in August. The post came days after Republicans lost their majorities in both and the in the Nov. 3 elections.
Online users also speculated that Trump meant Dana W. White, a former Pentagon spokesperson. She wrote on LinkedIn that people had "the wrong Dana White."
- five daysKatie Zacharia's time as press secretary in OctoberNewsweek
- 584 daysKaroline Leavitt's time as press secretary in Trump's second termNewsweek
Three sides of the story
26 news outlets reported this
Tap a color or swipe sideways to switch sides.
Liberal10 outlets
Trump's joke against a backdrop of midterm losses
Yahoo News carries a Reuters report that opens with Trump telling reporters he was "only kidding" and says the post signaled a "combative approach" toward Democrats as they prepare to take control of . Al Jazeera runs an explainer, "Why Trump joked about having Dana White as his White House press secretary," with background on White, the UFC and Trump's ties to it. It notes Trump reportedly purchased up to $50,000 in shares of TKO Holding, the UFC's parent firm.
It quotes Colorado Democrat Melat Kiros saying the offer shows how "deeply unserious" Trump is, and Senator Mark Kelly saying it "would be really funny if it wasn't dangerous." The Independent centers on the "wild theory" that Trump meant Dana W. White, the former Pentagon spokesperson, and quotes her LinkedIn line about the "wrong Dana White."
It says Trump "begged" White to take the job, and that Zacharia was fired five days in after a "disastrous first press briefing."
Center7 outlets
Trump walks back the offer, job stays vacant
Newsweek opens with Trump telling reporters in Palm Beach that he had been kidding. It quotes him: "I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea!" It adds that on Sunday night Trump said "I was kidding, of course," and that White still planned to visit Monday.
Newsweek says the White House deferred to the president's remarks when asked for more comment. It lays out the post itself: White as "a violent Fighter and Warrior," five named fighters as assistants, and the aim to "defend us against the Lunatic Left." It then turns to the empty podium.
Leavitt served 584 days, Zacharia held the job from Oct. 5 to Oct. 9, and "it remains unclear who will fill the position." The Journal's news report says Trump "walks back" his online post saying he had offered the UFC mogul the job.
Conservative9 outlets
Trump's own words and the other Dana White
Fox News leads with Trump's clarification and gives his lines at length: the fighters showed "a lot of rough faces," some came from "parts unknown," and White is "a very capable guy." Trump said White's Monday visit is for other reasons. Fox adds that White told Sports Business Journal in November 2024 he had "no personal political aspirations."
The New York Post leads with "the other Dana White," saying social media users joked that Trump confused the UFC boss with Dana W. White. It says "there is no evidence that Trump confused the two." The Daily Wire opens with White confirming he was headed to the White House, quoting him: "I'm flying to Washington, D.C. right now."
It says CNN reports a source close to White said he declined, and quotes White House communications director Steven Cheung: "Hell yeah! Do it Dana White."
- Centrist outlets did not mentionOnline speculation that Trump meant Dana W. White, the former Pentagon spokesperson, and her LinkedIn reply Reported by Al Jazeera English, The Independent, New York Post
- Conservative outlets did not mentionRepublicans lost their majorities in Congress in the Nov. 3 midterms, the backdrop to the post Reported by Al Jazeera English, Yahoo News
Which side made the stronger case?
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- Day Trump posted the press secretary offer
- Newsweek: Friday
- Yahoo News, Al Jazeera English, The Independent, New York Post, The Daily Wire: Saturday
All sources: 46 articles from 26 outlets
Liberal (15)
- Al Jazeera English: Trump ‘only kidding’ about Dana White press secretary role
- Al Jazeera English: Why Trump joked about having Dana White as his White House press secretary
- HuffPost: ‘Only Kidding’: Trump Is Not Hiring UFC CEO As Next White House Press Secretary
- PBS NewsHour: Trump says idea to make UFC's Dana White his press secretary 'just a little fun'
- The Boston Globe: Trump says he was just kidding about making UFC’s Dana White his press secretary
- The Daily Beast: Trump Makes Bonkers Admission About Press Secretary Fiasco
- The Guardian: Donald Trump 'kidding' about making UFC boss Dana White US press secretary – video
- The Guardian: Trump says he was ‘only kidding’ about making UFC’s Dana White next press secretary
- The Independent: A new favorite has emerged for press secretary after Dana White ‘joke’ flop
- The Independent: Trump’s pick of Dana White as press secretary has given way to a wild mix-up theory
- The New Republic: Trump Obsesses Over Dana White After He Refuses to Join White House
- Yahoo News: UFC chief Dana White takes White House podium — but officially turns down Trump
- Yahoo News: Trump says he was 'only kidding' about naming Dana White his new press secretary
- Yahoo News: Trump says he was 'only kidding' about naming Dana White his new press secretary
Center (12)
- BBC News: Dana White declines Trump’s offer to be White House press secretary
- BBC News: Trump says he was 'kidding' about Dana White press secretary offer
- Forbes: Trump Posts AI Videos Of Dana White As Press Secretary—Despite Saying He Was ‘Kidding’ With Job Offer
- Las Vegas Review-Journal: ‘Just kidding’: Trump says he was just joking about making Dana White press secretary
- Newsweek: Top Takeaways From Trump's Wild White House Press Event With Dana White
- Newsweek: Trump Shares Animated AI Video Saying ‘Michelle Obama Is a Man’
- Newsweek: Trump Says He Was ‘Kidding’ About Dana White Press Secretary Job
- The Hill: 5 takeaways from Trump's surprise White House briefing
- The Hill: Dana White takes podium at White House press briefing
- The Hill: Trump says he was 'kidding' about Dana White for press secretary
- The Seattle Times: Trump says he was joking about UFC’s Dana White as spokesman
- The Wall Street Journal: President Trump said Sunday that he was joking about Ultimate Fighting Championship Chief Executive Dana White becoming his next White House press secretary
Conservative (19)
- Fox News: Dana White takes questions at podium during White House briefing with Trump
- Fox News: Trump says he was ‘only kidding’ about making Dana White press secretary
- Just the News: Trump says he was 'only kidding' about offering UFC CEO Dana White White House press secretary role
- Just the News: UFC's Dana White takes podium at White House press briefing
- New York Post: Trump holds White House briefing with UFC’s Dana White, warns reporters he’ll ‘beat the hell out of you’ in wild presser
- New York Post: Trump says ‘I was only kidding’ with press secretary job offer to UFC boss Dana White
- New York Post: The other Dana White responds to Trump’s surprise White House press secretary announcement
- RedState: 'Press Sec' Dana White and Trump Light Up White House Briefing, Trigger a CNN Host in the Process
- RedState: Trump Reveals the Real Reason He Offered Dana White the Press Sec Job, and the Media Won’t Love It
- The Blaze: Dana White to meet with Trump after 'joke' job offer
- The Daily Wire: Dana White Officially Turns Down Press Secretary Role: ‘I Have Zero Political Aspirations’
- The Daily Wire: The Daily Wire Asks, Trump Answers: ‘I Was Kidding’ About Dana White
- The Daily Wire: Dana White Responds To Trump’s White House Press Secretary Job Offer
- The Epoch Times: Dana White Makes White House Press Briefing Appearance
- The Epoch Times: Trump Says He Was Kidding About Offering UFC Chief Dana White Press Secretary Role
- The Washington Times: Dana White takes charge of White House briefing room but declines press secretary job
- The Washington Times: Trump says 'only kidding' about asking UFC's Dana White to be his press secretary
- Washington Examiner: Trump says he floated Dana White for press secretary during ‘very bad press day’
- Washington Examiner: Joe Concha doubts Dana White would trade UFC empire for thankless press secretary job
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