UFC chief Dana White rejects Trump's White House press secretary offer
Dana White stated he has no political ambitions after US President Donald Trump jokingly suggested he take the vacant role.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) CEO Dana White on Monday ruled out taking the vacant White House press secretary position. Speaking from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, White said he has "zero political aspirations," according to the Times of India.
The clarification followed a social media post by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, where he urged White to accept the communications role. Trump described White as a "violent fighter and warrior" and suggested he recruit various UFC champions to serve as assistants to defend against the "Lunatic Left."
Trump later clarified to reporters that he was "only kidding" and that the proposal was intended as a joke. The president noted that he had shared images of UFC fighters to illustrate his humorous suggestion for White's potential media team.
The press secretary role has been vacant since Katie Zacharia was dismissed in October. Zacharia had previously replaced Karoline Leavitt, who left the position in August.
White, 56, has led the UFC for over 20 years and is a longtime ally of Trump. The two have worked together since the early 2000s when Trump's Taj Mahal casino hosted UFC events.
