THE NEW YORK TIMES: Donald Trump Asks Dana White of UFC to Be His Press Secretary
It is not clear if Trump’s out-of-the-blue pitch was a joke or a serious offer aimed at projecting defiance after his midterm election losses.
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he had offered Dana White, CEO of the UFC and a longtime friend, the role of White House press secretary.
Mr Trump made the announcement in a social media post in which he pleaded with Mr White — a “violent Fighter and Warrior” — to take the job.
The President said he had also requested that Mr White bring with him a number of UFC fighters to serve as aides who could respond to attacks against the administration.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris,” Mr Trump wrote.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left. Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
It was unclear if Mr Trump’s out-of-the-blue offer to Mr White was meant to be a joke or was a serious offer aimed at projecting defiance after his midterm election losses.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A UFC spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Trump’s announcement came as he signalled that he was preparing for political battle against Democrats when they take control of Congress next year, after Republicans lost control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
Mr Trump announced Friday that he was elevating Stephen Miller, his combative domestic policy architect, as his new chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles. The President had blamed Ms Wiles for the sweeping election defeats.
“He’s a great fighter,” Mr Trump said of Mr Miller on Friday. “He’s been with me right from the beginning.”
Mr Trump has been without a White House press secretary since mid-October, when Katie Zacharia, a pundit whom Mr Trump chose to replace Karoline Leavitt, was forced out after just five days.
Ms Leavitt stepped down in August, shortly after returning from maternity leave, citing the need to spend more time with her young children.
Mr Trump has projected defiance after an initial conciliatory reaction to the Republican wipeout earlier in the week, when he maintained that he would simply block Democratic efforts for the next two years.
On social media on Saturday, Mr Trump began to lash out at Democrats he said were making “threats” against members of his administration, including impeachment and imprisonment, and against Republicans in general.
Mr Trump, who has made retribution against his political foes a priority of his second term, called on the Justice Department to investigate the threats. He labelled them “weaponisation and lawfare at another level.”
“The threats being made by the Democrat Party against innocent Republican Donors and Party Members are absolutely unprecedented, and totally illegal,” he wrote.
“Please report them to the Department of Justice, IMMEDIATELY! If you would like, send them directly to me, your President.”
Earlier this year, Mr White, who has had a decades-long friendship with Trump, hosted an MMA cage fight on the South Lawn of the White House.
The bouts fell on Flag Day, and the President’s 80th birthday.
Mr Trump has supported the UFC and White, and has regularly attended the league’s fights during his presidency.
Originally published on The New York Times
