UFC president and CEO Dana White made an unannounced appearance at the White House press briefing room on Monday, joining President Trump for an impromptu question-and-answer session with reporters. The visit came days after Trump posted on Truth Social offering White the role of press secretary, a post Trump later dismissed as a joke.
White, who described the last 24 hours as "insane," told reporters he has "zero political aspirations" and was simply at the White House to support his friend. He said he was in London for a fight when Trump called to tell him about the social media post.
"Literally everybody, every media outlet was calling me, and I didn't want to be disrespectful and say anything until he said something first," White said, explaining his silence.
Trump explained the post was a reaction to a "very bad press day." He said he had been thinking of White as a friend and thought it would be amusing to offer him the job. "I was really kidding," Trump said, adding that the media took the post seriously.
The briefing also touched on the possibility of a presidential pardon for the late baseball player Pete Rose. White, when asked if he had advice for Trump on the matter, said he never advises the president on anything but added, "Yeah, I think it's fair." Trump agreed, saying Rose was "very mistreated" and deserved a pardon.
Rose served five months in federal prison for tax evasion and was permanently banned from baseball in 1989 for betting on games, including his own team. Trump noted Rose's gambling was wrong but argued he had endured decades of punishment and should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame long ago.
Major League Baseball reinstated Rose last year after Trump spoke with the commissioner about the case. The pardon question remains unresolved, but Trump's comments suggest he is open to the idea.
As the briefing concluded, Trump turned to White and asked, "Dana, would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America?" He gestured to the White House backdrop, joking about the perks of the job. White thanked Trump but reiterated his lack of interest in politics.
"I am devastated to hear this," Trump said with a smile. White responded, "Goodbye, everybody," and left the room.
The appearance comes amid a turbulent week in Washington, with Trump's surprise briefing and impeachment chatter dominating headlines. White's visit added a lighter moment, but it also highlighted the unusual relationship between the president and the UFC chief, who has become a prominent supporter of Trump.
White's denial of political ambition aligns with his past statements, though his presence at the briefing fueled speculation about his influence. Trump's backtrack on the offer and White's appearance suggest the two remain close, but White seems content to stay in the sports world.
As the press corps filed out, the image of a UFC executive at the White House podium was a reminder of Trump's unconventional approach to governance. Whether White will return remains unclear, but for now, he has made his position clear.
