UFC Chief Meets Trump Over Press Post

Dana White, the head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday to discuss an offer for the post of White House press secretary. The announcement was made via a social media post by Trump on Saturday. White is currently in London for a boxing event but said he will fly to Washington immediately after his press conference to meet with the president.

The timeline of events began when Trump posted on his Truth Social account from his golf club in Florida. He described White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior" and requested that White bring several UFC fighters to serve as assistants. Trump urged White to accept the position, stating, "Dana, please take the job!"

White addressed the offer during a news conference in London. When asked how he would balance the role with his existing responsibilities in the fight promotion industry, White said, "Yeah, I got a lot of jobs already." He declined to detail prior conversations with Trump but added, "I'm sure I'll have more to talk about after that."

Before the press conference, White shared an image of Trump's post on Instagram alongside a photo of himself standing behind the podium in the White House press briefing room. The caption read, "On to the next chapter." The White House and a UFC spokesperson did not respond to inquiries regarding the post on Saturday.

The offer arrives during a period of administrative change. Trump replaced longtime adviser Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller as chief of staff on Friday. This follows the brief tenure of Katie Zacharia, who left the press secretary role after five days. The position has been vacant since Karoline Leavitt departed at the end of August.

The shift in staff occurs as the Republican Party faces losses in the midterm elections. Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress, including seats in areas held by Republicans for decades. White has also outlined plans to expand the Zuffa Boxing organization, which he runs with Saudi Arabian backers, to hold more events globally.

Trump and White have a long-standing personal connection. Trump has attended several UFC events since returning to the White House in January 2025. The two met on the South Lawn in June for America's 250th anniversary and Trump's 80th birthday, where a wire-mesh Octagon was constructed near the mansion. White also spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020, and 2024.