The UFC CEO fielded questions from reporters at a hastily arranged briefing before Trump said he was only kidding about naming him press secretary.
Dana White got his moment behind the podium. The UFC president made a surprise appearance alongside President Trump during a hastily arranged press briefing Monday afternoon in Washington, D.C., taking questions from the assembled media. "I've always wanted to do this," White said as he stepped up.
The stunt followed a weekend in which Trump floated White as a possible replacement for his last press secretary, Katie Zacharia, who lasted just five days in the job. That idea set off confusion across the media world, with conflicting reports about whether White had any real interest in the gig. On Sunday, Trump walked it back, saying he was "kidding" about the offer, and he repeated at Monday's briefing that he was just "having a little fun" with the idea.
Asked directly whether he would consider a role in the administration, White did not fully rule out doing his longtime friend a favor, though nothing concrete was offered.
White's appearance came ahead of UFC 334 at Madison Square Garden, giving the brief political sideshow an obvious promotional angle as well.