Trump says offer of press secretary role to UFC chief was a joke

President Donald Trump clarified that his offer to make UFC chief Dana White the White House press secretary was intended as a joke. Trump noted that the inclusion of various international fighters as assistants should have signaled the humorous nature of the suggestion.
Why it matters
The incident underscores the unconventional communication style of the administration and the close relationship between the President and the UFC leadership.
Dana White (left), president and CEO of UFC, is a longtime friend of US president Donald Trump. (EPA Images pic)
WEST PALM BEACH: US president Donald Trump said Sunday that he was only joking when he offered the role of White House press secretary to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) chief Dana White earlier in the weekend.
"I was only kidding, but Dana loves the idea," Trump told reporters on the tarmac of his namesake airport in Florida.
The press secretary role - traditionally one of the administration's most visible positions - has been vacant since Katie Zacharia left on Oct 16 after less than a week on the job.
White, the 57-year-old president and CEO of UFC, and is a long-time friend of the president.
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Donald Trump Offers White House Press Secretary Role to UFC Chief
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