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 15 newspapers in 11 countries, between 07:00 and 14:00 on 9 November 2026.

In this story

The headline in each newspaper

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
AL JAZEERA (STATE MEDIA): Trump ‘only kidding’ about Dana White press secretary role

In short

Trump says he was “only kidding” when he suggested UFC president Dana White become the next White House press secretary.1 2 3 4 5 Fox News, CBS News and the Sydney Morning Herald show Dana White taking questions at the podium during a White House briefing after the midterms.6 7 8 Rappler reports Trump caused bedlam in the White House briefing room with White, and The Hindu reports that White declined the job offer.9 10 PBS NewsHour quotes Trump calling the idea “just a little fun”.11

AIMade at 05:01, only from the headlines. Each number links to the source headline. Written when the story had 13 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, president and CEO of the UFC, appeared in the White House briefing room and was offered the press secretary job by Trump, according to newspapers in Pakistan, Nigeria and Qatar.1 2 3 44 newspapers from 3 countries
According to newspapers in Pakistan and Nigeria, White turned down Trump's offer.2 42 newspapers from 2 countries

Where accounts differ

Dawn describes the appearance as causing bedlam in the briefing room, and Al Jazeera only as a Washington visit; Poder360 mentions an AI-generated video published by Trump, a detail the other sources do not mention.1 3 5

Who is involved

Trump, according to the headlines, made the offer to White and published the AI-generated video.1 2 5
Dana White, according to the headlines, turned down the job and said he does not do politics.1 2 4

Background

2023Dana White has been president and CEO of the UFC since 2023, after the organisation was sold in 2016 to a consortium led by WME-IMG.W

AIMade at 06:06 from 5 headlines from 4 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.

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 ↗
Al Jazeera (state media) · Qatar · 08:40Trump ‘only kidding’ about Dana White press secretary roleRead 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 ↗
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 ↗
Der Spiegel · Germany · 04:40Donald Trump tritt mit Kampfsportboss Dana White vor die Presse im Weißen HausRead 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 ↗
Poder360 · Brazil · 14:55Trump publica vídeo feito por IA de CEO do UFC na Casa BrancaRead at the newspaper ↗

Words in common

white
dana
ufc
press