Trump called White "the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior" and described him as a "Press Secretary like none other." He suggested White bring along several UFC figures, among them Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier and Amanda Nunes, and, in some accounts of the post, Kayla Harrison. "We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left," Trump wrote, adding that White should bring them "even though some are not from our Country."

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung reposted the message on X with the caption "Hell yeah! Do it, @DanaWhite!" White first appeared to play along, sharing the announcement on Instagram, before the source said he rejected the offer. Another outlet described him as playing along with the suggestion. A separate report said White was in London for a boxing match and would fly to Washington for an Oval Office meeting with Trump on Monday to discuss the offer.

The job has been open since October 16. Karoline Leavitt left the post, and her successor, Katie Zacharia, left after five days. The search is taking place during a wider shake-up in the administration, after Democratic midterm victories that gave the party control of both chambers of Congress and raised the prospect of closer congressional scrutiny.

Trump and White are close. The UFC held its Freedom 250 event on the White House South Lawn on June 14, and White has spoken at the Republican National Convention in 2016, 2020 and 2024.