Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) boss Dana White said he will fly to Washington to discuss President Donald Trump’s offer to become White House press secretary.
Mr Trump urged Mr White to take up the job in a Truth Social post on Saturday, naming several fighters from the mixed martial arts competition who could serve as assistants.
Speaking to reporters at an event in London, Mr White confirmed he would be meeting with the president.
“I have a meeting on Monday,” he said.
“I’m flying to DC right now and I’m sure we’ll have something to talk about after that.”
The president wrote on social media: “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.”
He added: “Dana will be a Press Secretary like none other. Dana, please take the job!”
It remained unclear if the president’s offer was serious and the UFC boss would not be drawn on whether he would accept the role.
Mr White admitted he had “a lot of jobs already” and declined to divulge details of recent conversations with Mr Trump.
The position has remained vacant since mid-October after Katie Zacharia’s departure just five days into her tenure.
The appointment would follow a shake-up of the president’s team in the wake of heavy Republican losses in the midterm elections.
Republicans lost control of both the US House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as several key gubernatorial races.
Mr Trump also ousted his White House chief of staff, Susie Wiles, and replaced her with long-time aide Stephen Miller.
The White House press secretary effectively acts as the president’s chief spokesperson and deals with the media daily.
Mr Trump named six UFC fighters he wanted to see at the White House, including two born in Russia.
The president added: “I have requested that he bring with him assistants, even though some are not from our Country, of Islam Makhachev, Khabib Nurmagomedov, Justin Gaethje, Daniel Cormier, Amanda Nunes, and Kayla Harris.
“We need these people to defend us against the Lunatic Left.”
Mr White is a long-time ally of the president, speaking in support of him on the campaign trail and at the 2024 Republican National Convention.
The pair have frequently been spotted sitting ringside at UFC events.
In June, the fighting competition held an event on the White House south lawn to mark both America’s 250th independence celebrations and the president’s birthday.
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