Trump taps UFC boss Dana White for press secretary, sparking online confusion over the name
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President Trump announced UFC president Dana White as his next White House press secretary, prompting online chatter that some people confused him with former Pentagon spokesperson Dana W. White, while supporters praised the bold pick.
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Saturday that he had offered the White House press secretary position to "the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior," sharing an AI-generated image of the UFC executive behind the press podium. The announcement led to online speculation that the president may have intended to nominate Dana W. White, who previously served as the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson and has experience with the Heritage Foundation, The Wall Street Journal and Fox News.
Journalist Adam Cochran noted on X that "Dana W. White who ran public affairs for Sec Def was recommended on a short list for Trump to put as Press Secretary," while Trump’s post referenced the UFC’s Dana White. Political science professor Connor Ewing questioned the likelihood of such a mix-up, and writer Doug Farrar suggested the timing was notable because it coincided with the anniversary of a previous Four Seasons Total Landscaping incident involving former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
Dana W. White responded on LinkedIn, thanking well-wishers but clarifying that she was not the UFC figure and that she had never competed in an octagon. The UFC’s Dana White, speaking at a news conference in London, said he planned to meet with Trump but also indicated he already had multiple job offers.
The White House has not confirmed whether the UFC executive will accept the role. The administration has been without a press secretary since Katie Zacharia was dismissed last month, five days after her appointment, following a problematic briefing. Zacharia had succeeded Karoline Leavitt, who left the post in August to focus on family matters. During his first term, President Trump employed four press secretaries: Sean Spicer, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Stephanie Grisham and Kayleigh McEnany.