In brief
Donald Trump clarified that his earlier announcement offering UFC president Dana White the role of White House press secretary was a joke. The comment came after Trump posted photos of fighters on Truth Social and on the floor by reporters in Washington, D.C. The claim was echoed by multiple news outlets, underscoring the fleeting nature of the news and the need for quick verification. The President’s move follows the short-lived appointment of Katie Zacharia as press secretary earlier this year.
In a statement Tuesday, President Donald Trump tweeted he was "only kidding" after offering UFC chief Dana White the role of White House press secretary, a claim first circulated on Truth Social on Sunday.
Xinhua reported that Trump told reporters in Washington that the post was a joke and that the photos of UFC fighters were posted to "make a joke" about White potentially becoming his aide.
The Guardian, briefly missing its page today, had confirmed the assertion and noted that the President had offered the position via a Saturday Truth Social post that read, “The Great Dana White… has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States.”
The Washington Post added that Trump said he was “only kidding” but that Dana White “loves the idea,” and that the comment followed the resignation of former press secretary Katie Zacharia five days into her tenure earlier this year.
Also reported by CTV News, Trump’s claim came after he had posted photographs of fighters on his social channel and said the joked appointment would serve “to defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
While the claim was repeated by multiple outlets, PulseWire notes that no official White House source has confirmed the appointment – the statement remains unverified. The President’s joke remains a headline in the morning news cycle on the evening of November 8, 2026, as users crowdsource fact‑checks and share live updates via social media. PulseWire will continue to monitor the White House’s response to the President’s remarks.
