Trump Says Dana White Press Secretary Offer Was a Joke, a Day After Posting It
Photo: The Guardian USPresident Donald Trump said on Sunday that he was joking when he announced a day earlier that UFC chief executive Dana White had been offered the job of White House press secretary. In a Saturday Truth Social post, Trump called White a violent fighter and warrior, urged him to take the job, and named a roster of fighters as his would-be assistants. Asked on Sunday what prompted the pitch and whether it was serious, Trump pointed to the fighters' rough faces as a giveaway and joked that some came from parts unknown. He also said White liked the idea and was a very capable guy. Trump said White was due to visit him the next day for other reasons, because he believed White already planned to be in Washington. The press secretary post has been vacant since Katie Zacharia's five-day trial run ended on Oct. 16.
Right-leaning Fox News and The Blaze treat it as a light story. Fox leads with Trump's explanation, featuring his lines about rough faces, parts unknown and White being capable, and links to pieces on White's denial that a White House UFC event is political and on the last press secretary's exit. The Blaze calls the offer tongue-in-cheek, headlines White's meeting with Trump, and adds the vacancy background. Left-leaning outlets are thinner. The Guardian US runs a short video item centered on Trump saying he was kidding, without the fighters or the visit in its excerpt. Talking Points Memo does not address the offer in its excerpt, covering instead Stephen Miller's promotion to chief of staff and Attorney General Todd Blanche's threats toward House Oversight Democrats. Both sides agree Trump called it a joke. Alternative outlets Tangle and BBC News match that basic account.
How the sides differ Right sources stress Trump's lighthearted explanation, White's praise and a planned visit; left sources give a brief retraction item and a separate piece on White House hardball politics.
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- The Washington PostPaywallTrump shares cartoon of UFC fighters beating reporters after offering Dana White press job
The Guardian US briefly reports Trump saying he was only kidding. Talking Points Memo's excerpt skips the offer and covers Stephen Miller's promotion and Todd Blanche's threats toward Oversight Democrats, quoting Rep. Robert Garcia.
- Awful AnnouncingDonald Trump says he was ‘only kidding’ about Dana White as press secretary
- APTrump says he was just kidding about making UFC's Dana White his press secretary
Tangle and BBC News report the basic sequence: Saturday's offer, then Sunday's claim of kidding. Tangle notes it was unclear at first whether Trump was serious, and BBC quotes the 'please take the job' post.
Fox News and The Blaze lead with Trump's joking explanation, his praise of White, the fighters named as assistants and White's planned visit. The Blaze adds the press secretary vacancy since Katie Zacharia's stint ended.