President Donald Trump has clarified that his suggestion to appoint UFC CEO Dana White as White House press secretary was made jokingly, even as the idea generated widespread attention. Speaking to reporters on November 8, Trump said he had been kidding when he publicly announced that White had been offered the high-profile communications position. However, the president added that White liked the idea and described the UFC executive as a capable individual. The original announcement, posted on Trump's Truth Social account on November 7, presented White as a potential successor to the administration's previous press secretary. Trump also joked about having prominent UFC fighters serve as White's assistants, a detail he later cited as evidence that the proposal was not meant to be taken literally.

Despite Trump's clarification, White is still scheduled to visit the White House on Monday, November 9, for a meeting with the president. White previously confirmed that he would travel to Washington and said he expected to share more information after the meeting, while Trump indicated that their discussion would concern other matters rather than the press secretary position. White's public response added to the speculation after he shared an image of himself standing behind the White House press briefing lectern with the caption, "On to the next chapter." The UFC executive has maintained a longstanding relationship with Trump and has publicly supported him for years, including during presidential campaigns and major political events. For now, there has been no official announcement that White will take a government communications role, leaving the proposed appointment in the realm of speculation rather than a confirmed personnel decision.