{
  "id": 19078037,
  "title": "Trump insists White House role offer to UFC boss was in jest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/trump-insists-white-house-role-offer-to-ufc-boss-was-in-jest",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-09T03:05:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2026/11/09/trump-insists-white-house-role-offer-to-ufc-boss-was-in-jest/242544"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Donald Trump clarified on Sunday that his earlier proposal to offer the role of White House press secretary to UFC chief Dana White was merely a joke. The statement came during a press conference on the tarmac of Trump's namesake airport in Florida. The position of White House press secretary has been vacant since Katie Zacharia resigned on October 16 after just one week on the job.\n\nDana White, the 57-year-old CEO of UFC, has been a longtime friend of the president. Speaking from London on Saturday, White expressed that he would need to discuss the matter further after meeting with Trump. In the past, White's UFC organization hosted a violent cage fight on the White House South Lawn during Trump's 80th birthday celebration in June. White also made an appearance on stage with Trump during his 2024 reelection victory speech.\n\nTrump had previously urged White to accept the offer on Saturday, referring to him as a \"violent fighter and warrior.\" In his comments on Sunday, Trump suggested that the inclusion of several fighters from \"parts unknown\" as potential assistants for White provided a clear indication that the proposal was a joke. Trump confirmed that a meeting with White was still scheduled for Monday.",
  "summary": "WASHINGTON, Nov 9 — US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he was only joking when he offered the role of W...",
  "key_points": [
    "Trump clarified UFC boss Dana White offer was a joke",
    "White House press secretary position vacant since October 16",
    "Trump scheduled meeting with White for Monday"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The president’s dismissal of the appointment proposal highlights the ongoing struggle to fill a critical communications vacancy left by a sudden resignation within the administration.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}