Trump says he was ‘kidding’ about Dana White press secretary job, amid online mix-up claims

Donald Trump says he was "only kidding" when he announced he had offered his friend and UFC boss Dana White the job of White House press secretary. The president shared an AI-generated video of White behind the briefing room podium and UFC fighters attacking journalists. But the announcement also sparked online speculation that Trump may have confused the UFC executive with a former Pentagon spokesperson, also called Dana White. There's no evidence of a mix-up, as Vedika Bahl explains. US President Donald Trump has backtracked on his announcement that he had offered UFC boss Dana White the role of White House press secretary, insisting he was "only kidding". The unusual proposal sparked widespread online speculation, including a theory that Trump may have confused the mixed martial arts executive with another person of the same name. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Trump said he had been joking when he announced the offer a day earlier to White, his long-time friend and the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). "I was only kidding," Trump said, adding that White liked the idea. He also suggested the joke should have been obvious given the AI-animated video he'd shared depicting the UFC executive flanked by professional fighters in the White House briefing room. The announcement was made on Saturday in a post on Trump's Truth Social platform. He described White as a "fighter and warrior" and said he had asked him to take on the role of press secretary, suggesting he bring along some of the UFC's top champions as his assistants to defend his administration against what he called the "Lunatic Left". The president accompanied the post with an AI-generated cartoon video showing White standing behind the White House press briefing podium, surrounded by UFC fighters. In an animated sequence, the fighters proceed to attack journalists attempting to ask questions, including one reporter who asks whether Trump is a threat to democracy before being body-slammed. The imagery was also amplified by the White House communications team. Trump's communications director, Steven Cheung, reposted the announcement on X, writing: "Hell yeah, do it Dana White!" A long-standing friendship with Trump White's apparent nomination raised eyebrows given his lack of experience in government or political communications. However, he is a long-time supporter of Trump and one of his close personal friends. The two have known each other for decades, with Trump hosting UFC events at his properties as far back as 2001. White has also been a prominent presence at Trump's political events and has publicly backed his presidential campaigns. Their relationship has continued during Trump's second term, with the president even planning a UFC event on the White House lawn as part of celebrations marking the United States' 250th anniversary. But despite their close ties, White has never held a government position or worked as a political spokesperson. Did Trump mean a different Dana White? The announcement also prompted a second, more unusual theory online: that Trump may have confused the UFC boss with another person called Dana White. Dana W. White previously served as the Pentagon's chief spokesperson during Trump's first administration. She has also worked for the conservative Heritage Foundation and appeared as a commentator on Fox News. Her background in government communications led some social media users to speculate that she might have been a more conventional candidate for the White House press secretary position, and that Trump could have mistakenly referred to the UFC executive instead. There is, however, no evidence to support the theory that the president confused the two. As the speculation gained traction online, Dana W. White addressed it directly in a post on LinkedIn. "To everyone texting me congratulations, thank you, but you have the wrong Dana White," she wrote. She also pointed out that she had previously stood behind a podium to answer questions from journalists, but had never stepped into a UFC octagon, and would like to "keep it that way". White House press secretary position remains vacant The White House has yet to announce a permanent replacement for the press secretary role, which has been vacant since October 16. Trump's previous pick, Katie Zacharia, left the position after fewer than five days. Her short tenure attracted scrutiny following a difficult first briefing and questions surrounding her legal credentials. The episode has also prompted speculation about the timing of Trump's announcement. Some critics and political commentators have suggested that the president's comments about White may have served to divert attention from his party's losses in the midterm elections.