UFC chief Dana White declines Trump's White House job offer

Donald Trump, in a Sunday press conference, clarified that his earlier suggestion of Dana White, the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO, as a White House press secretary was "only kidding". The comment came after a social media post that sparked discussions about the possibility of hiring White, a known supporter, and sparked speculation about his role in the upcoming Democratic-led Congress.

Trump insisted on the humorous nature of his proposal, stating, "I was only kidding." He added that White, a prominent supporter of his, "loves the idea" of the job, but clarified that his intent was not to be taken seriously. Trump revealed that the post featured photographs of UFC fighters, including prominent and former champions, as potential assistants to White, which he deemed as a part of the joke.

White was scheduled to meet Trump at the White House on Monday, although the meeting was not directly related to the press secretary role. White, who has been a long-standing ally of Trump and a key figure in mobilising support for his 2024 presidential campaign, has also appeared with Trump at various political events. In addition, White has facilitated bringing UFC fights to the White House lawn this year.