A joke or test? Why Trump floated UFC’s Dana White as his press secretary

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that US President Donald Trump briefly suggested UFC chief executive Dana White as a possible White House press secretary, then said the idea was a joke. Trump made the remarks after posting on Truth Social and later told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, that he was “only kidding.” The post and the reaction around it prompted questions about whether Trump was teasing the public or testing the response to an unconventional appointment.

White is a longtime Trump friend, a political supporter and a prominent figure in mixed martial arts, but he has never held a government job. The article says the two men have known each other for decades, with Trump helping host early UFC events at his Atlantic City casino and White later endorsing Trump’s presidential campaigns. Trump has also maintained close ties to UFC events in recent years, including hosting a UFC card at the White House during independence celebrations.

According to Al Jazeera, Trump’s move fits a pattern of public trial balloons and unusual personnel choices. Analysts quoted in the piece said White would be an out-of-the-box pick and noted that the press secretary role requires experience White does not have. The article also recalled Trump’s earlier short-lived press secretary appointment and said critics again questioned his judgment.

White, for his part, did not sound eager to join the administration, telling reporters he already had enough jobs. Al Jazeera notes that the episode underscores Trump’s preference for spectacle, headline-grabbing announcements and close loyalty among allies.