Trump’s joke about handing Dana White the press secretary job exposes the chaos of his White House messaging
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President Donald Trump said on Nov. 8 that his claim about offering UFC chief Dana White the White House press secretary role was only a joke, after a Truth Social post that read like performative spectacle rather than governance.
President Donald Trump said on Nov. 8 that his earlier claim of offering UFC chief Dana White the White House press secretary job was only a joke, underscoring once again the theatrical style that often blurs the line between government and publicity stunt. Trump had posted on Truth Social on Nov. 7 that he was "pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States," adding that White "loves the idea" of the role. After the post, White told reporters in London he would travel to Washington, D.C., and meet Trump on Nov. 9, but later declined to discuss details. He also shared an Instagram Story showing himself at the White House podium with the caption “On to the next chapter.” Within an hour, his X account promoted upcoming UFC fights, reinforcing the sense that the episode was more media theater than serious personnel planning. The White House did not comment on the matter. The press secretary position has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left in October, following Karoline Leavitt’s departure in August after more than a year and a half in the role. White, a longtime friend of Trump, has previously hosted the president at UFC events and introduced him at the 2024 Republican National Convention, describing him as a friend of 25 years and "a man that truly cares about people."