UFC president Dana White spoke from behind the coveted White House press room podium and publicly turned down President Donald Trump’s so-called “joke” of a job offer.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” White, 57, said before taking questions during a Monday, November 9, White House press conference. “Who has the first question?”
Before any reporters could chime in, White addressed speculation that he would be taking over as the president’s press secretary following Katie Zacharia’s eyebrow-raising departure. (Zacharia was relieved of her duties in mid October after just five days on the job.)
“I have zero political aspirations,” White stated. “I was at a fight for Zuffa Boxing in London when he called me and told me he had done this and the last 24 hours of my life has [sic] been insane.”
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The UFC CEO went on to tell reporters that Trump, 80, is the “toughest, most resilient man I’ve ever met in my life.”
White added that the commander-in-chief is “a one of one unique human being,” before letting the group of journalists ask questions.
When one reporter asked whether White told Trump “no” after discovering that the president publicly declared he wanted him as part of his team, White shook his head.
“I don’t tell the president ‘no’ to anything. No, I didn’t say no,” White revealed. “Every media outlet was calling me and I didn’t want to be disrespectful until he said something first.”
Trump jumped in, saying, “I was sorta kidding. Then they wrote the stories as if I wasn’t kidding,” referring to his initial statement claiming White had been offered the job.
“He was here anyway, we thought we’d have a little fun and we brought Dana here,” Trump explained, before praising White as someone who “would be fantastic” in the role.
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White’s surprise appearance at the press conference came two days after Trump claimed his longtime friend was asked to join his staff.
“I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States,” Trump wrote via his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday, November 7. “I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes and Kayla Harris.”
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The president then pleaded for White to say yes, writing, “We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
The following day, Trump walked back his offer, telling reporters, “So I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy.”
He claimed on Sunday, November 8, “Of course, I was kidding. And you could see that because I put all of the great fighters as his assistants, that they’re all going to come with him. It was just a little fun.”
