UFC chief Dana White turns down Trump’s offer of White House press secretary job

Dana White, head of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), turned down President Donald Trump’s offer to make him White House press secretary. He gave his answer in person, turning up unannounced at the White House on 9 November.

Mr. Trump brought Mr. White into the James Brady Briefing Room, where reporters are briefed, for a disorderly news conference, The Hindu reported. Mr. White said he had “zero political aspirations”, France 24 reported.

Mr. Trump had said on social media on 7 November that he had offered Mr. White the post. On 8 November, Mr. Trump, who is 80, said he had “only” been “kidding”, according to France 24 and Arab News.

The background

The press secretary speaks for the President and briefs reporters at the White House almost every day. The offer came as Mr. Trump reshuffled his team after the Republicans’ losses in the midterm elections on 3 November; Stephen Miller has taken over as his chief of staff.

Mr. White has run the UFC, the largest mixed martial arts company in the world, since 2001, and is a long-time friend and supporter of Mr. Trump.

The White House had not named anyone else for the post when this story was published.