The key facts

  • Trump called a joke the previously voiced idea of appointing Dana White as press secretary
  • Trump's meeting with White at the White House on November 9 is confirmed, but the vacancy was not discussed
  • Earlier, Trump also proposed involving UFC fighters, including Russian athletes, in guarding the White House

Trump: 'I was just joking'

US President Donald Trump said that his statements about his intention to appoint UFC head Dana White as his press secretary were just a joke. This was reported by The New York Times, and the message was quoted by Kun.uz. 'Honestly, I was just joking. Dana really liked the idea, he's a peculiar guy. It's better not to argue with him,' Trump told journalists.

The meeting took place, but without discussion of the vacancy

On November 9, Trump confirmed the meeting with White at the White House. According to him, the UFC head's candidacy for the press secretary position was not discussed at the meeting. White himself had previously announced the planned meeting, noting that he had questions he wanted to discuss with Trump.

What preceded it

Earlier, Trump wrote on his social network Truth Social that he had offered White the post of press secretary. At the same time, he voiced another idea — to involve UFC fighters, including Russian athletes, in guarding the White House, who, according to him, were needed to 'protect the US from the crazy left.' The difference between these two initiatives is significant: while Trump has now officially called the press secretary appointment a joke, the fate of the proposal to involve fighters in guarding was not clarified in the new reports.