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President Donald Trump said Saturday he offered the open White House press secretary role to UFC CEO Dana White. White and the White House had not confirmed whether he would accept; First Lady Melania Trump was also set to attend LSU’s game against Alabama as part of an education initiative tied to a $5 million scholarship endowment.
President Donald Trump said Saturday he had offered the open White House press secretary job to Dana White, the president and CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, while First Lady Melania Trump was set to attend Louisiana State University’s game against the University of Alabama in Baton Rouge. White’s response to the offer had not been confirmed, leaving the administration’s next press secretary uncertain.
The president announced the offer on Saturday afternoon, according to The Hill’s live report. Neither White nor the White House had confirmed whether he would take the position. After Trump’s announcement, White posted an image to his Instagram story showing him behind the White House press briefing room lectern, with the caption, “On to the next chapter.” The post did not explicitly confirm his acceptance.
Melania Trump’s planned attendance at the LSU-Alabama game was connected to her Fostering the Future education initiative. The White House had announced earlier in the week that she awarded LSU $5 million to establish a permanent endowment fund for scholarships for students in the foster care system. The game was scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. EST in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Trump was at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday, where the Conservative Political Action Conference was holding the final day of its Circle Retreat and Gala. The report said the president had a policy meeting scheduled for 6:30 p.m. EST and no public appearances listed on his schedule.
A High-Profile Press Office Choice
The press secretary is a prominent public representative of the White House, answering questions from journalists and communicating the administration’s positions. An offer to Dana White, a well-known figure in professional sports, could bring a candidate from outside traditional political communications into that role. But until White or the White House confirms the outcome, the announcement does not establish who will take the job or when a change might happen.
The two developments also put attention on different parts of the administration’s public activity: a possible personnel appointment and a first lady’s education initiative. The reported $5 million LSU endowment is intended to fund scholarships for students who have been in foster care. The source report did not provide details about eligibility, the number of scholarships, or when students could apply.
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The Offer and LSU Visit
The press secretary post was described in The Hill’s report as open when Trump offered it to White. The report identifies White as UFC president and CEO but does not set out the circumstances that led to the vacancy or name another candidate. White’s social-media image and caption followed the president’s announcement, but they are not a direct statement accepting the offer.
Melania Trump’s appearance was described as planned, not as an event already completed at the time of the report. Her visit was linked to the scholarship endowment the White House announced earlier that week. LSU was due to host Alabama in Baton Rouge Saturday afternoon, giving the initiative a public setting alongside the football game.
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago schedule and the CPAC gathering were part of the same day’s reporting. The Hill noted that CPAC’s retreat and gala followed Republican losses in the midterm elections held Tuesday. It also identified several guests at the multi-day retreat, including White House chief of staff Stephen Miller, former U.S. ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Brazilian politician Flavio Bolsonaro. Those details provide the setting for Trump’s Saturday activity but do not establish a link between the gathering and White’s possible appointment.
White’s Decision Is Unconfirmed
The central unresolved issue is whether White will accept Trump’s offer. At the time covered by the report, neither White nor the White House had confirmed his decision. The Instagram post may have prompted speculation, but its caption does not state that he has agreed to become press secretary.
The report also does not identify a start date, describe any terms of the offer, or say whether the White House has another candidate under consideration. For the LSU visit, the source says Melania Trump was set to attend; it does not confirm what she did at the game or provide further details about how the scholarship fund will be administered.
Watch for an Acceptance Statement
The next clear development would be a direct announcement from White or the White House confirming whether he has accepted the position. If he does, further details could establish when he would begin and how the administration plans to handle press briefings. No acceptance or appointment timeline was provided in the report.
The LSU-Alabama game was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST, and Trump’s policy meeting was listed for 6:30 p.m. EST. The source report did not indicate whether either event would produce a further statement about the offer or the scholarship endowment.
Key Questions
Who did Trump offer the press secretary job to?
Trump said Saturday that he offered the open role to Dana White, president and CEO of the UFC.
Has Dana White accepted the offer?
That was not confirmed in the report. White posted “On to the next chapter” with an image of himself at the White House briefing lectern, but he did not explicitly say he had accepted.
Why was Melania Trump scheduled to attend the LSU game?
Her planned visit was tied to her Fostering the Future education initiative. The White House had announced a $5 million LSU endowment for scholarships for students in the foster care system.
When and where was the LSU-Alabama game scheduled?
The game was scheduled for 3:30 p.m. EST Saturday in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Source: thehill.com
