Dana White Rejects Trump’s Press Secretary Offer
On November 9, Trump appeared in the White House briefing room with White, ending speculation sparked by the president’s weekend social media post about offering the UFC chief the press secretary job. Trump said he had been kidding, then asked White in person whether he wanted the role. White said he did not want to enter politics. Trump joked that he was devastated by the rejection.
Trump said the idea came to him during what he described as a bad press day. He said White was already due to visit, and the two decided to make light of the speculation. White described the previous day as “insane.”
White briefly answered reporters’ questions, then Trump took questions for about half an hour on topics including the war in Iran and the possible impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Trump also called the midterm results ridiculous and questioned whether the election was honest, after previously congratulating Democrats.
Trump defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, who has acknowledged an affair with a woman alleged to be a Chinese agent. Trump said he had spoken with Huang and believed him when he said he did not know the woman was a spy. Asked about a possible pardon for Pete Rose, Trump said he would grant one, describing the late baseball player as mistreated.
Trump Questions Election Results During White House Briefing
Trump used a White House briefing on November 9 to cast doubt on election results after Democrats’ strong midterm performance, calling the outcome ridiculous and asking whether the election had been honest. His remarks came after he had congratulated Democrats on election night.
The appearance also featured UFC CEO Dana White, who rejected Trump’s joking offer to become press secretary. Trump said the idea began during a bad press day and that the two decided to have fun with the resulting speculation. White said he did not want to enter politics.
Trump took questions for about half an hour, including about the war in Iran and the possible impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He also defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang over an affair with a woman alleged to be a Chinese agent, saying Huang told him he did not know she was a spy and that Trump believed him.
The press secretary episode may have been a joke, but Trump’s election claims were not. Questioning results after a loss risks undermining confidence in the vote, even as he had initially congratulated the winning Democrats.
Trump and Dana White Turn Press Secretary Joke Into Briefing-Room Banter
A weekend joke about Dana White taking the press secretary job ended with the UFC CEO beside Donald Trump in the White House briefing room on November 9. White told Trump he did not want to be in politics; Trump answered that he was devastated.
Trump said the idea came to him during a bad press day and that White was already scheduled to visit. The two chose to play along with the speculation, which White said had made the previous day insane. The exchange put to rest the talk of White joining the administration.
The appearance also gave Trump a chance to answer questions for about half an hour, including on Iran and the possible impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. He called the midterm results ridiculous and questioned the election’s honesty after previously congratulating Democrats.
Trump also defended Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, saying he believed Huang had not known that a woman alleged to be a Chinese agent was a spy. Asked about a pardon for Pete Rose, Trump said he would grant one, calling the late baseball player mistreated. The briefing ranged well beyond the press secretary gag, but the White-House job speculation ended with a clear no.
Reported by Deadline, Yahoo News.
