Trump calls Dana White press secretary offer 'just a little fun' after GOP sweep
The President walked back a social media post announcing the UFC boss as his next spokesperson, days after Democrats captured both chambers of Congress.
By Thabo Hoffmann ·
President Donald Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach on Sunday that his suggestion to name UFC chief Dana White as White House press secretary was a joke. The comment came hours after Trump posted on social media that he had offered the position to his close friend, sparking immediate speculation about a change in the administration's communication strategy.
“I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy,” Trump said. He made the remarks before departing for Washington, D.C. White is scheduled to visit the White House on Monday.
The announcement followed a turbulent weekend for the administration. On Friday, Trump replaced Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller, the architect of the government's hardline immigration policies. The shakeup occurred two days after midterm elections delivered historic victories to Democrats.
Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress, with Democrats winning seats in districts they had held for decades. The political shift left the White House without a permanent press secretary. Katie Zacharia had held the post for only five days before leaving the role.
The brief tenure ended after Zacharia struggled in interviews and behind the podium. Trump did not name a replacement at the time, instead pointing to White in his Saturday post. Now, with the role still vacant, the President signaled that the transition may not be as immediate as his initial social media update suggested.
