Trump clarifies Dana White press secretary remark was a joke
By Amir Navarro ·
US President Donald Trump has clarified that his recent suggestion of appointing Dana White as White House press secretary was intended as a joke. The President made the remark on Saturday via his Truth Social platform, describing the Ultimate Fighting Championship executive as a fighter and warrior. He proposed that White take the role and bring top UFC champions to assist in defending the administration against what he termed the Lunatic Left.
On Sunday, Trump told reporters that he was only kidding about the offer. He noted that White liked the idea and suggested the humorous nature of the announcement should have been evident. This conclusion was reinforced by an AI-generated cartoon video shared with the post. The animation depicted White behind the briefing podium, surrounded by fighters who physically attacked reporters during a press conference.
The unusual proposal generated significant discussion on social media. One prominent theory suggested that Trump may have confused the UFC leader with a different individual sharing the same name. This speculation arose because Dana W. White, a former chief spokesperson for the Pentagon during Trump's first term, has a background in government communications that aligns more traditionally with the press secretary role.
Dana W. White addressed the online rumors directly in a post on LinkedIn. She thanked those who sent congratulations but clarified that they had the wrong Dana White. She added that while she had previously answered questions from journalists at a podium, she had never entered a UFC octagon and intended to keep it that way. Despite the speculation, there is currently no evidence to support the claim that the President confused the two individuals.
The UFC's Dana White is a long-time friend and supporter of the President. The two have known each other for decades, with Trump hosting UFC events at his properties as early as 2001. White has been a visible presence at Trump's political events and has publicly backed his presidential campaigns. Their relationship remains strong during the current administration, with plans for a UFC event on the White House lawn to mark the nation's 250th anniversary.
The White House communications team amplified the initial announcement. Steven Cheung, the President's communications director, reposted the news on X with the caption Hell yeah, do it Dana White! This support from the administration's media team contributed to the initial confusion among the public regarding the serious nature of the proposal.
The press secretary position has been vacant since October 16. The previous appointee, Katie Zacharia, left the role after fewer than five days. Her brief tenure drew scrutiny following a challenging first briefing and questions regarding her legal credentials. The department is still searching for a permanent replacement for the post.
Some political commentators have analyzed the timing of Trump's remarks about the UFC executive. Critics have suggested that the announcement may have been used to divert attention from the President's party's losses in the recent midterm elections. The episode highlights the ongoing scrutiny of the administration's media strategy and personnel choices.
