Trump: Dana White press secretary offer was 'just a little fun'
The president clarified the joke after a social media post sparked speculation following midterm election losses.
By Harper Collins ·
President Donald Trump told reporters on Sunday that his offer to make UFC chairman Dana White the White House press secretary was a joke. Trump had announced the appointment on social media the day before, creating confusion about the next leader of the White House press office.
The clarification came as Trump traveled to the White House from Florida. He described the post as “just a little fun.” “I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy,” Trump said. White is scheduled to visit the president on Monday.
The announcement followed a week of major changes in the administration after the Republican Party lost control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday’s midterm elections. Democrats won historic victories in districts that had voted for Republicans for decades.
On Friday, Trump replaced Chief of Staff Susie Wiles with Stephen Miller. Miller, a longtime aide, serves as the architect of the administration’s hardline immigration policies. The move signaled a shift in the White House leadership structure following the election results.
The press secretary role remains vacant. Trump had briefly appointed Katie Zacharia to the position, but she left after five days. Her tenure ended after she faltered behind the lectern and during interviews. The White House has not named a permanent replacement since her departure.
Trump’s social media post about White appeared on Saturday, one day after the chief of staff change. The timing linked the hiring news to the post-election restructuring of the executive branch. No other major appointments were announced at the same time.
