Over the weekend, President Donald Trump sparked a flurry of speculation when he appeared to endorse former UFC president Dana White as a potential White House press secretary. The suggestion first surfaced on Trump’s Truth Social platform, where the former president posted a tongue‑in‑cheek announcement that White, a longtime fan of the mixed‑martial‑arts organization, had been offered the position. Trump even joked that White should bring fighters such as Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov as “assistants” to defend the administration against the “Lunatic Left.”
White, a former fighter and current CEO of the UFC, has a history of close ties with Trump, dating back to the early 1990s when the president helped promote UFC events at his Atlantic City casino. The two men have maintained a friendship and business relationship for more than 25 years, according to Republican strategist Rob Arlett.
Arlett told Al Jazeera that Trump often tests ideas publicly to gauge reactions before making a final decision. “Knowing President Trump as I do, I believe he was partly serious,” Arlett said. “He and Dana White share a longstanding friendship and business relationship… Their mutual loyalty and trust remain strong.”
Despite the initial buzz, Trump clarified on Sunday night from an airport tarmac in West Palm Beach that the post was a joke. “I was only kidding. But Dana loves the idea,” he said, adding that White would be “great” if he accepted. The announcement came after the brief tenure of political commentator Katie Zacharia, who served as press secretary for five days in October before resigning.
White’s background as a former boxer and entrepreneur has earned him a reputation for boldness, but his appointment as press secretary would have been an unconventional choice. Critics of Zacharia’s short stint highlighted concerns over her legal credentials and performance, suggesting that a similar appointment of White might face scrutiny.
While the post was ultimately dismissed as a joke, it underscored Trump’s penchant for unconventional moves and headline‑grabbing tactics. Whether or not White will ever consider a role in the White House remains uncertain, but the episode added another chapter to the president’s history of surprising political gambits.
Source: Al Jazeera
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