Dana White heads to Washington to meet Trump over press secretary offer

WASHINGTON, Nov 8 (OPA) — UFC Chief Executive Dana White confirmed Saturday that he is traveling to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump following a public offer to take over as White House press secretary. Speaking to reporters in London, the 57-year-old fight promoter chuckled at questions regarding the position before confirming his immediate travel plans. White stated he would meet his longtime ally at the White House on Monday to discuss the matter further.

The public overture came via a Saturday post on Truth Social, where Trump urged White to accept the post and suggested bringing several mixed martial arts fighters as assistants to defend against political opponents. The proposal immediately generated conflicting reports, with TMZ citing sources confirming Monday's Oval Office meeting, while CNN reported that White had already declined the offer. A White House aide separately suggested the president's proposition was intended as a joke.

The search for a new press secretary has intensified following the departure of Katie Zacharia, who was dismissed after a five-day tenure, and the prior departure of Karoline Leavitt in August. The administration has faced severe communication hurdles following a midterm election defeat that handed Democrats control of both congressional chambers. White House communications director Steven Cheung publicly supported Trump's proposal on social media, while White reposted the announcement alongside an image of himself at the White House briefing podium.

White has maintained a close personal and political relationship with Trump, speaking at the last three Republican National Conventions and helping mobilize younger male voters during the 2024 presidential campaign. It remains unclear whether the high-profile executive will transition from combat sports promotion to federal government communications. Both the White House and White's representatives have not released further details ahead of Monday's scheduled meeting.