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Trump floats UFC chief Dana White as White House press secretary
President Donald Trump publicly suggested UFC chief Dana White for the vacant White House press secretary post, though a later report said Trump described the idea as a joke.
President Donald Trump publicly floated Dana White, the chief executive of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as a candidate for White House press secretary, a post that is currently vacant. The suggestion was made in a social media post, placing the mixed martial arts executive at the center of a speculative discussion about who might take on one of the most visible jobs in the administration.
The idea did not stay on the record for long. Trump later said he was only joking, according to reporting on the episode, which suggests the proposal may not have reflected a serious effort to fill the role. The timing of the joke and the follow-up remark underscores how quickly a presidential post on social media can generate headlines before any formal personnel process begins.
A separate report said a Monday meeting between Trump and White is planned. That same report said the press secretary job is not seriously on the agenda of that meeting, which would indicate that the two men are expected to discuss other matters. The notes available do not specify what those other matters are, and they do not describe whether the meeting was scheduled in connection with the social media remark.
White leads the UFC, the mixed martial arts promotion that has grown into a major global sports and entertainment business. His profile as a promoter and public figure is the main reason his name draws attention in a conversation about a government communications job. The notes do not indicate whether White has any background in government, press relations or political communications, and they do not say whether he would accept such a position or whether he would be considered seriously for it.
The press secretary post has been the public face of the White House to reporters for decades, briefing journalists on the administration's positions and handling questions from the press corps. The notes available do not state how long the position has been vacant, who has been filling its duties in the interim, or whether other candidates are under consideration. Until a decision is announced, the role remains unfilled, and any move to fill it would be expected to follow a more formal process than a social media post.
Source: investing.com
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