Trump Parades UFC Chief Dana White at White House Press Briefing

WASHINGTON, Nov 10 (OPA) — President Donald Trump brought Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White to the White House briefing room on Monday for a surprise appearance, weeks after joking that he had offered White the open press secretary job. Pressed by reporters on whether he had accepted the post previously held by Katie Zacharia and Karoline Leavitt, White responded that he never turns down the president.

"I don't tell the president no to anything," White stated during the briefing. Trump admitted the initial announcement last week following a difficult press day was meant in jest, noting that the media immediately picked up the story. White ultimately conceded at the conclusion of the briefing that he has no interest in serving as press secretary or taking any political role.

The briefing quickly turned contentious as Trump fielded questions regarding foreign policy and his administration. Addressing tensions with Iran, Trump stated that the United States is "locked and loaded" for full-scale hostilities if necessary, though he noted that additional kinetic military action currently does not appear to be a primary requirement. The USS Theodore Roosevelt recently departed San Diego for the Middle East to join two other carrier strike groups, adding roughly 9,000 to 10,000 sailors and Marines to the region.

Trump also clashed directly with members of the press corps during the session. When CNN's Kaitlan Collins questioned the president about an impeachment effort led by Republican Representative Thomas Massie targeting Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Trump dismissed the lawmaker. Later, the president exchanged barbs with MS NOW reporter Vaugh Hillyard over questions concerning relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.