Trump says offer for Dana White as White House press secretary was a joke

U.S. President Donald Trump clarified on Sunday afternoon that he was "only kidding" about his offer for UFC CEO Dana White to fulfill the open role of White House press secretary. Speaking to reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump expressed surprise at the reaction to his announcement and insisted his proposal was never meant to be taken seriously.

The president stated that White was enthusiastic about the idea, noting, "Dana loves the idea." Trump confirmed that the two are expected to meet Monday in Washington, D.C., adding that the meeting was previously scheduled and concerned unrelated matters. "He's actually coming tomorrow, actually for other reasons I think he was going to be in Washington, so he's going to come over and see me," Trump said.

Trump originally announced the offer on Friday via his social media platform, Truth Social. In his Sunday remarks, he explained the humorous nature of the post by referencing the fighters he included in the message. "When you look at the fighters that I put in [my post], that's why I said some don't come from our country, they come from parts unknown," he said. "So I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy."

The White House press secretary position has been vacant for the past few weeks. Trump described the announcement as "a little fun," emphasizing that the inclusion of various fighters as potential assistants to White was part of the joke. "You could see that because I put all of the great fighters as his assistants, that they're all going to come with him," he added.