Trump 'only kidding' about offering press secretary job to UFC boss Dana White

Donald Trump has said he was "only kidding" about UFC boss Dana White becoming White House press secretary.

The US president said on Saturday he had asked the mixed martial arts promoter to take up the vacant role.

However, a day later, Mr Trump told reporters: "I was only kidding - but Dana loves the idea."

The president's administration has been without an official mouthpiece since last month, when Katie Zacharia left after five days.

White is well known as the outspoken chief executive of the UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) and has been a long-time supporter and friend of Mr Trump.

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Writing on Truth Social on Saturday, the president called White "a violent Fighter and Warrior" and said he'd offered him the press secretary job.

He name-checked a number of famous fighters, such as Khabib Nurmagomedov and Justin Gaethje, and said he had asked White to bring them as "assistants".

"We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left," Mr Trump added.

"Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!"

Speaking at a boxing event in London on Saturday night, White said he would meet with Donald Trump at the White House on Monday.

Some commentators had suspected Mr Trump wasn't serious about offering White the job, and was likely just "trolling".

"I wouldn't put it past Donald Trump on a Saturday afternoon to want to steal a headline or two by suggesting something facetious, and Dana White could politely refuse, and it wouldn't be anything bad," said US political analyst Calvin Dark

The press secretary is the president's main spokesperson and hosts regular press briefings at the White House to explain and communicate policy.

A much-criticised debut from Ms Zacharia saw her out of the job in less than a week.

However, her predecessor Karoline Leavitt, who left to spend more time with family, was widely seen as a competent and calm operator.

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The president has already made one major change after his crushing loss in the mid-term elections this week, with influential adviser Stephen Miller replacing Susie Wiles as chief of staff.

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