{
  "id": 19047425,
  "title": "Trump says 'only kidding' about naming UFC CEO as White House press secretary",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/trump-says-only-kidding-about-naming-ufc-ceo-as-white-house-press",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T00:02:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20261109/trump-says-only-kidding-about-naming-ufc-ceo-as-white-house-press-secretary"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump made a lighthearted comment on Sunday, stating he was merely joking when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White could serve as his next White House press secretary following a social media post that sparked speculation about potentially recruiting White. The White House press secretary's role is to represent the President and manage media relations, a position Trump indicated he did not take seriously. The comment came after Trump previously shared photographs of prominent UFC fighters as potential assistants to White, framing it as a joke. During a press conference on Monday, Trump clarified that he had not been serious about the proposal, describing it as \"just a little fun.\" White, a staunch supporter of Trump, expressed that the idea of taking the job was appealing to him. The President mentioned that White would visit him at the White House on Monday, although the purpose of the meeting was not related to the press secretary's role. White, who has been leading the White House staff, had not been named for the position.",
  "summary": "WEST PALM BEACH — President Donald Trump on Sunday said he was \"only kidding\" when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White could become his next White House press secretary, after a social media post a day earlier stirred speculation about recruiting his feisty ally and signaled a combative approach to dealing with Democrats as they prepare to take control of Congress. Trump said White, a prominent…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 11,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ukrinform - Politics",
        "title": "Trump offers UFC Chief White House press secretary job to defend against 'Lunatic Left'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/07/trump-offers-ufc-chief-white-house-press-secretary-job-to-defend",
        "published": "2026-11-07T21:59:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "After crushing midterm loss, Trump taps UFC boss Dana White for White House",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/after-crushing-midterm-loss-trump-taps-ufc-boss-dana-white-for-white",
        "published": "2026-11-08T01:06:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Mainichi",
        "title": "UFC's Dana White says he will meet with Trump Monday over offer to be White House press secretary",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/ufcs-dana-white-says-he-will-meet-with-trump-monday-over-offer-to-be",
        "published": "2026-11-08T01:43:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Trump offers UFC boss White House press secretary role: 'Dana, please take the job!'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/trump-offers-ufc-boss-white-house-press-secretary-role-dana-please",
        "published": "2026-11-08T07:04:37.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "The great White mix-up: Did Trump offer White House job to the wrong Dana White?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/the-great-white-mix-up-did-trump-offer-white-house-job-to-the-wrong",
        "published": "2026-11-08T07:25:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "UFC's Dana White says he will meet with Trump Monday over offer to be White House press secretary",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/ufcs-dana-white-says-he-will-meet-with-trump-monday-over-offer-to-be-18888903",
        "published": "2026-11-08T07:35:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Seeking Alpha News",
        "title": "Trump offers press secretary position to UFC boss Dana White",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/trump-offers-press-secretary-position-to-ufc-boss-dana-white",
        "published": "2026-11-08T11:49:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Will UFC's Dana White be Trump's press secretary?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/will-ufcs-dana-white-be-trumps-press-secretary",
        "published": "2026-11-08T16:45:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Qatar Tribune",
        "title": "Trump offers UFC boss White House press secretary post",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/trump-offers-ufc-boss-white-house-press-secretary-post",
        "published": "2026-11-08T21:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Today",
        "title": "Trump says he was 'only kidding' about naming UFC CEO as White House press secretary",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/trump-says-he-was-only-kidding-about-naming-ufc-ceo-as-white-house",
        "published": "2026-11-08T23:52:38.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}