Trump Asks UFC's Dana White to Be Press Secretary Live

An unusual scene unfolded Monday at the White House when President Donald Trump invited Dana White, president and CEO of the UFC, to step up to the podium in the press briefing room and take questions from reporters. The man accustomed to running one of the world's largest combat sports organizations suddenly found himself on the other side of the microphones.

The appearance followed a media storm that began over the weekend, after Trump posted a surprising offer on his social media platform to appoint White as White House press secretary. The president addressed him publicly and asked him to accept the role, praising his abilities and calling him an exceptional person.

But on Sunday, Trump clarified that the remarks were largely made in jest. According to the president, he had thought of White after a difficult day with the press and floated his name to reporters. He said the two are longtime friends and that he thought it would be amusing to offer him the position. Trump added that the fact he suggested bringing in a few UFC fighters as assistants should have made clear it was a joke.

Nevertheless, on Monday White arrived at the White House and the president gave him the stage. Trump introduced him to the press and said he loves the idea, that White loves his country and could do an excellent job in the role. He then invited him to approach the podium.

White, dressed in a black shirt and jacket, did not hide his enthusiasm for the moment. "I've always wanted to do this. Who wants to ask the first question?" he announced to the reporters, drawing laughter in the room. But he immediately clarified: "I have no political aspirations."

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He recounted that he was in London at a Zuffa Boxing event when Trump called to update him on the offer he had posted. "The last 24 hours of my life have been insane," he said, adding that numerous media outlets had reached out to him following the announcement.

One of the more entertaining questions put to him concerned the possibility of a hypothetical UFC match between Trump and former President Joe Biden, if they were the same age and weight. White replied that Trump is the toughest and most resilient person he has ever met, and said that over the years he has often wondered why the president continues to endure the many pressures and challenges that accompany him.

After several questions, Trump returned to the center of the briefing and answered reporters' questions himself on policy and security matters, including midterm election results, the war with Iran, the war in Ukraine, and other issues on the American agenda.

But toward the end of the press conference, the president decided to return to the offer that had occupied the media in recent days. He turned to White and asked him directly: "So let me ask you the big question. Dana, would you like to be the White House press secretary of the United States? Look at the sign, the White House, Washington. Would you like that, or would you rather stay with that ridiculous UFC?"

White thanked the president for the offer but made clear once again that he has no interest in entering politics. "Thank you for the offer, sir. I don't want to be in politics," he replied.

Trump did not miss the opportunity to end the moment with a joke of his own. "I'm devastated to hear that," he said with a smile, before concluding the press conference and leaving the room.

White and Trump are longtime friends, and the relationship between them spans many years. White was one of the president's prominent supporters and appeared at political events on his behalf. Last June, the collaboration between the two reached another peak when Trump hosted a special UFC event on the White House lawn as part of celebrations for America's 250th anniversary and his 80th birthday.