Trump asks UFC chief Dana White to be White House press secretary

What the report says

Ultimate Fighting Championship chief executive Dana White said he will meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday after Trump publicly offered him the job of White House press secretary, according to Al Jazeera’s report published on 8 November 2026. White made the remarks after a boxing event in London, while Trump posted the offer on his Truth Social platform earlier the same day.

Trump’s message praised White and urged him to take the role. He also suggested White bring assistants, and separately posted images of several current and former UFC fighters, framing them as people who could help defend his administration. The report said the White House press secretary post had been empty since Katie Zacharia left after only five days, following Karoline Leavitt’s earlier departure.

Al Jazeera noted that White and Trump have known each other for years and grew closer after White backed Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has also become a frequent presence at UFC events in recent years, including a White House-hosted UFC night in June tied to celebrations for the 250th anniversary of US independence.

The story also highlighted that the White House communications team already includes Steven Cheung, who previously worked for White’s organization. The development is notable because it reflects Trump’s long-running ties to the UFC and his unusual approach to staffing senior communications roles.