Trump Says Dana White Press Secretary Offer Was a Joke

President Donald Trump announced on social media on November 7 that he had offered UFC CEO Dana White the job of White House press secretary, according to the Guardian. The public invitation was direct: "Dana, please take the job!" News18 reported.

White was not an unfamiliar choice from outside Trump's circle. Their business ties stretch back decades, and White has helped Trump reach younger voters, according to Al Jazeera.

On November 8, Trump recast the offer as a joke. Speaking in West Palm Beach, he said he was "only kidding" when he suggested White could become his next press secretary, Reuters reported.

Trump nevertheless said White "loves the idea" of being the White House spokesman, while calling his public offer "just a little fun," according to NYT Politics.

A report published on November 9 gave a different account of White's interest. The Comeback reported that White did not want the position. That differs from Trump's description of White's enthusiasm, though enthusiasm for an idea would not itself amount to accepting a job.

A meeting remained planned. Trump said White would be in Washington on November 9 "for other reasons" and would "come over and see me," according to NDTV. Deadline reported that the press secretary job was not seriously on the meeting's agenda.

On November 9, Trump continued promoting the idea visually, even after dismissing it as a joke. He posted AI-generated videos of White delivering press briefings on Truth Social, Forbes reported. Those clips were generated depictions, not evidence that White had taken the role.

Trump's stated position is that the offer was not serious. White reportedly was not interested, and the press secretary role remains vacant, according to Mint.

The distinction is between a public offer and an appointment. The supplied reporting describes an invitation, Trump's subsequent disclaimer and generated videos, not White becoming White House press secretary.

The immediate pending development is the outcome of the November 9 meeting. The supplied coverage does not establish that it has happened or produced any decision. Deadline reported that the job was not seriously under discussion, while Mint reported that the vacancy remained open.