UFC boss declines Trump’s ‘joke‘ White House offer in chaotic press briefing

Ultimate Fighting Championship chief Dana White turned down US President Donald Trump’s apparently jovial offer of a job as press secretary in a surprise appearance at the White House on Monday (US time).

Trump stunned the world by saying on social media on Saturday that he had asked White to take on the high-profile post – but a day later said he was “only kidding”.

White visited the White House on Monday, where Trump brought him out for a chaotic news conference in the James Brady Briefing Room.

Trump said: “So let me ask you the big question. Would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America? Or do you just want to stay with this ridiculous UFC? Huh?”

White replied: “Thank you for the offer, sir - for the offer, I have no, no - I do not want to be in politics.”

Trump smiled and headed out of the room, saying: “I am devastated to hear this. Goodbye, everybody.”

The press secretary’s post has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left on October 16 after less than a week. Her combative predecessor Karoline Leavitt left in August after 18 months in the job.

Trump’s announcement that he had offered the high-profile job to “violent fighter and warrior” White had sparked speculation he was ready for an aggressive stance after the Republican Party’s stunning midterm elections defeat.

White is a long-time friend of the President and helped host a massive UFC match on the White House lawn earlier this year.

But there was also scepticism about the President’s announcement, and Trump said on Sunday night that he had been joking.

Leading out White to the podium on Monday, Trump said he had been “having a little fun”.

He said: “He’s a great guy. The only problem is he’ll talk for a little while and then he’s going to beat the hell out of you.”

Standing at the lectern and wearing a black T-shirt and jacket, White looked like he might be more comfortable in the octagon – the ring used for UFC fights.

He said: “I’ve always wanted to do this. Who has the first question?” But he quickly added: “I have zero political aspirations.”

White said “the last 24 hours of my life has been insane” since Trump made the announcement.

Asked by a journalist to confirm he had said no to the job, White added: “I don’t tell the President ‘no’ to anything... I didn’t want to be disrespectful and say anything until he said something first.”

Trump then took a series of questions on more weighty matters, from the Iran and Ukraine wars to the possible impeachment of Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth and a spy scandal engulfing Nvidia boss Jensen Huang.

- AFP