Trump publicly offers UFC boss press secretary job

November 8, 2026 — 5:56amWashington: Donald Trump says he is offering Ultimate Fighting Championship boss Dana White the job of White House press secretary.The US president said White was “a violent fighter and warrior”, and that he was asking White to bring mixed martial arts fighters from around the world - including Russian fighter Islam Makhacev - as “assistants” for the press secretary job.US President Donald Trump and UFC president and CEO Dana White arrive for UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.AP“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”The president’s post included photographs of the UFC boss, and he appeared to be joking about the idea, but it was not immediately clear. Nor was it clear whether there had been any behind the scenes discussions about a potential government role for the UFC boss.Donald Trump posted a collage of images alongside the Truth Social post calling on Dana White to take up the job.Truth SocialBut the two men are friends, and Trump hosted a UFC fight at the White House earlier this year as part of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.The move comes a day after Trump replaced White House chief of staff Susie Wiles with hardline lieutenant Stephen Miller, widely seen as the start of an aggressive staff restructure as Trump prepares for Democrats to investigate his administration in Congress.Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for our weekly What in the World newsletter.From our partners