In brief
Donald Trump denied a June 2026 accusations that he offered UFC chief Dana White the post of White House press secretary, saying the remark was made in jest. The outlet Xinhua reported the comment, while Sky News, CTV, and a Guardian story—currently unavailable—covered the incident from different angles.
President Donald Trump confirmed that his August 2026 post suggesting UFC president Dana White could serve as White House press secretary was a joke. Trump explained the comment on a press briefing in Washington, citing his Truth Social post and the accompanying photographs he had shared of prominent fighters. This statement emerged after several media outlets reported on Trump’s initial announcement.
Xinhua reported that Trump told reporters, "I was only kidding," after posting an image and caption on Truth Social that read: "I am pleased to announce that the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior, has been offered the job of Press Secretary of the United States… Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other." The Chinese state news agency added that the president had requested White bring assistants for the role, even if some were not American. Xinhua also noted that Trump had posted photos of UFC fighters as part of the joke.
"I was only kidding," Trump said in the briefing.Trump (Xinhua briefing)
Sky News covered the story from the perspective of a post‑briefing comment, reporting that Trump later told reporters, "I was only kidding - but Dana loves the idea." The BBC‑affiliated outlet emphasized the contrast between the initial invitation and Trump’s subsequent clarification, without providing further details about White’s reaction.
CTV News noted Trump’s claim that the offer had been made on social media, and they focused on the timeline: Trump announced the joke on Truth Social, then clarified the day after. The Canadian broadcaster highlighted that the president’s office was still searching for an official press secretary, implying that this comment had no factual basis.
The Guardian included a story titled "Trump says he was 'only kidding' about making UFC's Dana White his next White House press secretary," but the link to the article is currently unavailable, resulting in a page‑not‑found error. Nonetheless, the Guardian’s reporting was noted to reinforce the narrative that Trump’s claim was intended as humor rather than a genuine offer.
Across the reports, each outlet presented the same claim about Trump’s joke but described the context differently. Xinhua emphasized the post’s imagery and the language used, Sky News focused on Trump’s counter‑statement about White’s enthusiasm, CTV highlighted the search for a new official press secretary, and the Guardian source, though inaccessible, was cited as a reference point for international coverage.
Trump has historically used social media for unfiltered remarks, with his Truth Social posts frequently sparking follow‑up statements from the White House. The juxtaposition of these outlets underlines how the same event is framed in varying ways: Xinhua’s emphasis on the visual aspect, Sky News’ focus on the phrasing of the apology, CTV’s attention to procedural status, and the Guardian’s demonstration of the event’s reach in global media.
Therefore, the spectrum of coverage—from the Chinese state media’s detailed description to the Guardian’s now‑unavailable link—illustrates how a single remark can carry multiple interpretations, each framed by the reporting medium’s priorities. The story continues to be monitored as further statements from the White House circulate.
