Donald Trump said he was only kidding after briefly posting that Dana White had been offered the White House press secretary job, a claim that quickly turned a strange political moment into a short-lived news cycle.
The episode began on Saturday, November 7, 2026, when Trump posted that White had been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States. The post stood out immediately because the role had only recently opened up, after White House press secretary Katie Zacharia was fired following five days on the job.
White, who has long been one of Trump’s closest allies, added to the confusion when he told reporters on Saturday that he was flying to Washington, D.C. and expected to meet Trump on Monday. He also said, “I got a lot of jobs already,” which did not exactly sound like a firm acceptance.
Later, reported that White had turned down the offer according to a White House source. Trump then clarified the situation himself, saying, “I will tell you; I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea, and there’s only one Dana; he’s great,” before adding, “I was kidding, of course.”
Why the moment drew attention
The press secretary job is one of the most visible communications roles in Washington, D.C., and Trump’s apparent offer tied it to an unconventional candidate with no traditional White House background. That made the brief announcement notable even before the reversal.
Trump and White have a long history together. Trump has attended UFC matches for years, and this summer he even hosted a UFC event on the lawn of the White House as part of celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the United States. Trump administration officials had also floated Nicki Minaj for the press secretary role before the White post, adding to the unusual backdrop.
So, is Dana White the press secretary? Based on Trump’s clarification, no. Trump said he was joking, and the reporting that followed pointed to White turning the offer down anyway. For now, the White House search appears to have moved from a public tease back to square one.
