Trump offers UFC boss Dana White job of White House press secretary

Facing a new Democratic Congress, US President Donald Trump expressed combative sentiments on Saturday, presenting Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White with the opportunity to assume the role of White House press secretary. Trump, who frequently associates his MAGA politics with the UFC, described White as a "violent fighter and warrior." He posted on social media, inviting White to accept the position by stating, "Dana, please take the job!"

The appointment followed Trump's order for the Justice Department to investigate Democrats for "extortion at the highest level" and called for prison terms. This announcement came a day after Trump had appointed Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff, calling the senior adviser a "great fighter." The White House has been without a press secretary since October 16 when Katie Zacharia left the position after less than a week.

Dana White, 57, currently presides over the UFC, the largest and most successful organization in mixed martial arts. Although he did not explicitly accept the job, White posted a photograph, possibly AI-generated, showing him behind the lectern in the White House press briefing room, captioned "On to the next chapter." Trump listed six UFC fighters he hopes White will bring to the White House as advisers, despite some fighters not being from the United States.

Trump's pugilistic rhetoric echoes his 2018 comments, during which he threatened to wage a "war-like posture" against any investigations. Trump was impeached in 2019 and 2021. The White House will now be tasked with filling the position of press secretary amid a radically transformed political landscape, with Democrats controlling both chambers of Congress after a blowout midterm defeat.

They are promising robust investigations of Trump and top officials, potentially leading to scrutiny of the Trump family's business dealings, government contracts, immigration enforcement, and the Iran war.