SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White has turned down an unexpected offer from United States President Donald Trump to become the White House press secretary, making it clear that he has no interest in pursuing a career in politics.
The 57-year-old sports executive made his position known during a surprise appearance at the White House on Monday, where Trump jokingly offered him the high-profile government position in front of journalists.
The unusual exchange followed Trump’s social media announcement on Saturday that he had approached White about taking up the role. The announcement initially generated speculation about a possible change in the president’s communications team, although Trump later clarified that he had been joking.
Introducing White during a press briefing at the James Brady Briefing Room, Trump asked whether he would prefer to serve as the United States press secretary or continue running what he described as the UFC.
White responded by thanking the president for the offer but firmly stating that he had no desire to enter politics.
Trump played along with the rejection, joking that he was devastated by White’s decision before leaving the briefing room.
The UFC boss later admitted that the president’s announcement had turned the previous 24 hours of his life into an extraordinary experience. Wearing his trademark casual black outfit, White also joked about finally getting the opportunity to stand behind the White House podium and take questions from reporters.
However, he quickly reinforced that his interest in politics remained nonexistent.
Trump described White as a great friend but joked that his personality might not be suited to handling the press, adding that he could eventually lose his temper with journalists.
The exchange comes amid uncertainty surrounding the White House communications team. The press secretary’s position became vacant following Katie Zacharia’s departure on October 16, after less than a week in the role. Her predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, left in August after serving for approximately 18 months.
Trump’s initial announcement had attracted attention partly because of White’s reputation as an outspoken and aggressive figure in professional fighting. It also fuelled speculation about whether the president was considering a more confrontational communications strategy following the Republican Party’s disappointing performance in the midterm elections.
White, a longtime Trump ally, has maintained a close relationship with the president and previously helped organize a major UFC event on the White House lawn.
Despite their friendship, Monday’s exchange made clear that White prefers to remain in the world of mixed martial arts rather than take on the political pressures of government communications.
After the light-hearted interaction, Trump proceeded to address more serious national issues, including the conflicts involving Iran and Ukraine, impeachment efforts against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and allegations surrounding Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
