UFC boss Dana White declines President Trump's offer to become press secretary

Dana White, chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, appeared at the White House on Monday and told President Donald Trump he would not accept an offer to serve as press secretary. Trump had announced on social media that he had asked White to consider the position, then later said he was "only kidding" about the proposal.

During a news conference in the James Brady Briefing Room, Trump asked White if he wanted the job, to which White replied, \"Thank you for the offer, sir -- I do not want to be in politics.\" Trump responded that he was "devastated" by the refusal.

The press secretary post has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left the role in October. White, a longtime friend of the president who helped host a UFC event on the White House lawn earlier this year, said he has no political ambitions and that the past 24 hours have been "insane" following the announcement.

White added that he does not normally tell the president "no" and waited for Trump to speak first before declining. The meeting then shifted to other topics, including the Iran and Ukraine conflicts and a pending investigation involving Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth.