In brief
On Sunday, President Trump told reporters that his Truth Social post offering UFC chief Dana White the role of White House press secretary was a joke. Xinhua reported the claim and included the president’s own wording. Sky News noted that Trump later told reporters White reportedly loves the idea and that the joke involved photos of fighters. The story underscores Trump’s style of mixing humor with political messaging.
On Sunday, Washington, President Donald Trump explained that his earlier social‑media remark about appointing UFC president‑CEO Dana White as White House press secretary was a joke. In a briefing with reporters, the president said, I was only kidding, after noting that the comment stemmed from a Savage‑ly playful post on Truth Social last Saturday. The tweet came a day before the press conference, when the president encouraged White and allegedly asked him to bring additional aides—including some that could be from abroad—to “defend us against the Lunatic Left.” Xinhua reported that Trump also posted photographs of several high‑profile UFC fighters to supplement the joke.
During the press briefing, Trump reiterated his claim of jest, adding, I will tell you, I was only kidding. The president’s spokesman told reporters the comment had been a tongue‑in‑cheek moment and that the president’s online post was not a formal offer. In the same briefing, a reporter asked whether the conversation with White had truly taken place, and Trump stated that it had not: he had only “talked a little bit” on social media, but no formal request was made. He also emphasized that the role of White House press secretary remains unfilled heading into the winter session.
Sky News later reported that a day after Trump’s press conference, the president clarified that he had been “only kidding – but Dana loves the idea.” According to the outlet, the report was based on a subsequent brief with the same reporters. Sky’s statement also noted that Trump did not disclose whether any official paperwork had been issued, and that the White House did not yet have a press secretary on hand. Sky added that the president’s joke was followed by a briefhearted new account from Trump’s Twitter, which concluded with a “tune‑up” of the scenario.
Meanwhile, The Wall Street Journal provided a side note, stating that the story generated confusion on Twitter but was eventually traced back to the president’s “only kidding” statement. The journal’s correspondent highlighted that the president’s own social‑media post included a line that read, “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.” The article also mentioned that the post was accompanied by images of famed fighters and an exhortation that they bring assistants, some of whom were not from the U.S.
In the context of White’s own career, the comment did not strike a tone of criticism or asset. White, who has been the figurehead of the UFC since 2001, was only mentioned in a light‑hearted context and was not publicized as accepting the role. The line in Trump’s tweet that “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other” stands in contrast to the president’s later acknowledgment that it was a jest. White himself has not issued a statement in the wake of the reports.
In summary, the president’s statement was tied to a playful social‑media post, and the follow‑up clarifications were made in a public briefing and subsequently reported by outlets such as Sky News and The Wall Street Journal. The episode highlights how Trump’s public messaging often blurs the line between humor and official political communication, prompting reporters and analysts to seek confirmation of any substantive changes to White House personnel. For now, the role of press secretary remains pending, and Dana White’s future involvement with the White House is unlikely to materialize beyond the early jokes posted on Truth Social.
