UFC CEO Dana White appeared at a White House press briefing Monday, but only to end questions about President Donald Trump's potential appointment of him to press secretary.
The appearance with the president followed a weekend of confusion, after Trump said Saturday on social media that he had offered White the position. Trump then told reporters Sunday that he was "only kidding," but White still addressed the situation Monday.
"I have zero political aspirations," White told reporters. "I don't tell the president no to anything. I didn't say no. Literally every media outlet was calling me, and I didn't want to be disrespectful and say anything until he said something first."
Trump, in his initial social media post, had referred to White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior," and said he would be "fantastic" in the role.
White jokingly fielded questions from the media Monday, including his signature UFC line of, "Who has the first question?" before formally declining.
"Thank you for the offer, sir," White said, addressing the president. "I do not want to be in politics."
Trump and White have been close friends for years, with White speaking at the Republican National Conventions in 2016, 2020 and 2024. White's UFC held a live event, UFC Freedom Fights 250, on the White House's South Lawn in June, in a celebration of America's 250th year of independence and Trump's 80th birthday.
Trump has been without a permanent press secretary since Karoline Leavitt departed the position in August. Katie Zacharia held the job for five days in October.
