US President Donald Trump has said he had asked mixed martial arts promoter Dana White to serve as White House press secretary and called on him to bring some fighters along as assistants "even though some are not from our country."
White, chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, is a "violent Fighter and Warrior," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post on Saturday.
Trump asked for six current or former UFC titleholders to join White, including two athletes from Russia's Dagestan region, Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov; Americans Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and "Kayla Harris," likely a reference to Kayla Harrison; and Amanda Nunes, a Brazilian native who became an American citizen last year.
"We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left," Trump wrote.
However, a later CNN report said White "declined the unorthodox idea", while one Trump aide said the president was joking about the offer.
The president's offer came as he continues to search for a new press secretary since Karoline Leavitt's departure and Katie Zacharia's five-day stint in the role.
The role has grown more significant as Democrats have gained control of Congress and promised to launch investigations into the Trump administration.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung showed support for the proposal on Saturday by reposting Trump's message and commenting: "Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!"
Close friendship
Trump is close friends with White and has attended several UFC events with him since returning to the White House in January 2025.
He brought White and the sport to the White House's South Lawn in June to celebrate America's 250th anniversary of independence and the president's 80th birthday.
A wire-mesh Octagon was constructed near the executive mansion under "The Claw," a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with lights, sound equipment and large screens.
"It was an amazing experience, this was a one-of-one," said White afterwards.
White also spoke at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
