Trump Retries Joke About Dana White Taking Press Secretary Role
The president clarified his weekend post about the UFC executive after replacing his chief of staff with Stephen Miller.
By Samantha Reed ·
President Donald Trump told reporters in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday that he was joking when he claimed to have offered the White House press secretary job to UFC chief Dana White. Trump described the social media announcement as "just a little fun." He said, "I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy." The president spoke before leaving Florida to return to Washington.
The comment followed a turbulent weekend for the administration. Trump replaced Susie Wiles as chief of staff on Friday, appointing Stephen Miller to the position. Miller is known for designing the administration's strict immigration policies. The personnel change came two days after the midterm elections resulted in historic Democratic victories. Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate in Tuesday's vote.
The White House currently has no official press secretary. Katie Zacharia held the role for five days before departing after struggling during press briefings and interviews. Trump posted on social media on Saturday that he had offered the vacant position to White. White is scheduled to visit the president at the White House on Monday.
The shift in leadership occurred against the backdrop of the new congressional majority. Democratic candidates won key districts that had favored Republicans for decades. Trump’s administration now faces a new dynamic in Congress alongside the internal staff changes announced this week.
