Speculation that Donald Trump had considered UFC chief Dana White as his next White House press secretary has been overtaken by a stranger explanation: that the name was confused with a different person entirely. Reports suggest the mix-up theory has spread quickly as the administration's press secretary search continues.
The person Trump was reported to have floated is Dana W. White, not the UFC executive known to millions as the head of the mixed martial arts organisation. Dana W. White previously served as the Pentagon's chief spokesperson, a role that involves briefing reporters and speaking for the Department of Defence. Commentary spread after that distinction became known, with many suggesting that the name had been mistaken for the more famous UFC figure, who is widely associated with Trump through his public appearances and political support.
The Independent has detailed the confusion over the two Dana Whites' identities. The Daily Mail has described the episode as a farce unfolding amid the broader search for a press secretary. Express reported that Trump, while disclaiming the appointment, was pictured without his trademark MAGA cap, a detail that circulated alongside the story. Those reports add colour to the episode but do not establish what was actually discussed.
Trump has reportedly said he was only joking about the appointment. That remark is reported rather than independently confirmed, and it is unclear whether the appointment was ever seriously considered. It is also not established who first originated the mix-up theory, and the notes do not say whether the White House has yet named a formal press secretary nominee. Until the administration makes a clear statement on the matter, the account rests on reported comments and on the identity distinction between the two men.