Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has declined President Donald Trump’s
Dana White, president of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, has declined President Donald Trump’s offer to serve as White House press secretary, CNN reported citing sources, even as Trump ordered Justice Department investigations into Democrats who threaten Republicans with impeachment. The announcements open the Stephen Miller era at the White House with an openly combative posture toward the opposition and the press.
ansa.it reported that Trump posted the request on his Truth Social platform, writing: “I asked him to bring along some staff, some of whom are not from our country. We need these people to defend us from the crazy left. Dana, please accept the position.” White, a Trump ally since 2000, when the then-real-estate magnate hosted some of the UFC’s earliest events at his properties, has not accepted.
The choice would have been unusual for the sensitive communications post. Trump’s ties to the media have worsened due to lawsuits and White House press restrictions, and *Il Sole 24 Ore* pointed out that pairing this conflict with the UFC president highlights how the administration is reconfiguring its public communications team.
Trump’s Truth Social appeal names foreign staff
White’s refusal leaves the position unfilled at a moment when Trump says he wants to keep fighting for the remaining two years of his term even as a lame duck, with the request to White, the appointment of Miller, and the investigations into Democrats Trump called “contemptible” all pointing in the same direction: a president preparing for sustained confrontation.
Miller’s Justice Department agenda
Stephen Miller, the new White House chief of staff, backs a hard line by the Justice Department against what the administration calls fake news. According to ansa.it, Miller believes journalists who refuse to reveal their government sources should end up in jail — a position that has alarmed press freedom advocates and some Republicans alike.
Trump’s order for investigations into Democrats who threaten Republicans with impeachment or sanctions puts that philosophy into motion.
Cabinet speculation after Wiles departure
Trump signaled more personnel changes are coming after removing Susie Wiles. “I like my government team, but maybe I’ll make some changes,” he said in a “60 Minutes” interview cited by ansa.it. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly weighing a departure to focus on a 2028 run, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy could also be at risk.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appear safe for now. Kennedy, however, faces headaches after his former adviser Calley Manus resigned, explaining that he left because of internal corruption by “a group of people,” according to ansa.it.
Republican critics call the Miller pick “horrible”
At Mar-a-Lago, Miller assured Trump of his “absolute loyalty” and thanked him for saving the Republican Party from the “trash heap of history.”
White has not publicly explained why he turned down the spokesperson role, and it remains unknown whether Trump will offer the job to someone else or restructure the communications operation entirely.