Official portrait of Donald Trump, President of the United States, in a navy suit, white shirt, red tie and US flag pin, against a dark background; AI-recomposed version. — **Archive portrait** · Photo: Daniel Torok / The White House, Domínio público (obra do governo dos EUA) · Image credits

**Archive portrait** · Photo: Daniel Torok / The White House, Domínio público (obra do governo dos EUA) · Image credits

‘Of course, I was kidding’: Donald Trump on US press secretary offer to UFC chief Dana White

Told by 14 newspapers in 10 countries, between 05:00 and 08:00 on 9 November 2026.

In this story

The headline in each newspaper

AL JAZEERA (STATE MEDIA): A joke or test? Why Trump floated UFC’s Dana White as his press secretary
THE GUARDIAN: Trump says he was ‘only kidding’ about making UFC’s Dana White next press secretary
DAWN: Trump says he was 'only kidding' about naming UFC CEO as White House press secretary

In short

Trump said the idea of naming Dana White, UFC chief, as White House press secretary was a joke, according to The Guardian, the BBC and PBS NewsHour.1 2 3 Fox News, The Sydney Morning Herald and CBS News show Dana White taking questions at the podium during a White House briefing with Trump.4 5 6 Rappler describes the briefing as chaotic, with Trump and Dana White setting off bedlam in the briefing room.7

AIMade at 04:41, only from the headlines. Each number links to the source headline. Written when the story had 12 newspapers; it is redone when new newspapers join. How it is made

Compare the papers

What newspapers from several countries agree on, where the accounts differ and who is involved, so each reader can draw their own conclusions.

Common ground

Dana White, UFC president and CEO, declined Donald Trump's offer of a White House role, including press secretary, according to newspapers in the UAE, India, Pakistan, Nigeria, Qatar and Brazil.1 2 3 +47 newspapers from 6 countries

Where accounts differ

Poder360 (Brazil) describes the case as an AI-made video Trump published, while the other headlines describe a job offer made at a press briefing.7
According to Punch (Nigeria), the offer was made in a "jovial" manner; the other headlines do not mention the tone.4

Who is involved

Donald Trump made the offer, according to the headlines; Dawn (Pakistan) says it was made in the White House briefing room.3
Dana White says he has "zero" interest in politics, according to The National (UAE) and The Indian Express (India).1 2

Background

2016Dana White is president and CEO of the UFC, a mixed martial arts organization; he has been its president since the 2016 sale to a consortium led by WME-IMG and became CEO in 2023.W

AIMade at 04:11 from 7 headlines from 6 countries; the background, from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Each number links to the source. Rules

The headlines, side by side

Each headline is the original, as the newspaper published it, in the order it arrived. The selection follows the public grouping rule, with no AI.

Highlighted words are used only by that newspaper, among the headlines in the same language. They show what each one chose to stress.

Al Jazeera (state media) · Qatar · 05:25A joke or test? Why Trump floated UFC’s Dana White as his press secretaryRead at the newspaper ↗
The Guardian · United Kingdom · 07:20Trump says he was ‘only kidding’ about making UFC’s Dana White next press secretaryRead at the newspaper ↗
The Indian Express · India · 07:00‘Of course, I was kidding’: Donald Trump on US press secretary offer to UFC chief Dana WhiteRead at the newspaper ↗
Dawn · Pakistan · 08:40Trump says he was 'only kidding' about naming UFC CEO as White House press secretaryRead at the newspaper ↗
BBC News · United Kingdom · 09:00Trump says he was 'kidding' about Dana White press secretary offerRead at the newspaper ↗
Geo News · Pakistan · 10:45Trump says 'only kidding' about naming UFC CEO as White House press secretaryRead at the newspaper ↗
Der Spiegel · Germany · 11:16Donald Trump: UFC-Chef Dana White und seine politische Rolle für TrumpRead at the newspaper ↗
PBS NewsHour · United States · 16:30Trump says idea to make UFC's Dana White his press secretary 'just a little fun'Read at the newspaper ↗
Fox News · United States · 22:35Dana White takes questions at podium during White House briefing with TrumpRead at the newspaper ↗
The Sydney Morning Herald · Australia · 22:25‘Always wanted to do this’: Dana White takes questionsRead at the newspaper ↗
Rappler · Philippines · 02:01Trump sets off bedlam in White House briefing room with UFC chief Dana WhiteRead at the newspaper ↗
The Hindu · India · 04:55UFC chief Dana White declines Donald Trump's White House job offerRead at the newspaper ↗
The National (state media) · United Arab Emirates · 06:35Dana White tells US President Donald Trump he has 'zero' interest in politicsRead at the newspaper ↗
Punch · Nigeria · 08:45UFC chief Dana White declines Trump’s ‘jovial’ White House job offerRead at the newspaper ↗

Words in common

white
dana
ufc
press