UFC's Dana White appears with Trump at a White House briefing — but won't be his press secretary

WASHINGTON (AP) — After bringing UFC to the White House lawn this summer, President Donald Trump has now brought it to the briefing room, too.

Trump made a surprise appearance before reporters Monday with UFC chief Dana White and briefly stood aside as his longtime friend took questions — milking a joke that began over the weekend, when Trump said he had offered White the job of White House press secretary.

“I’ve always wanted to do this," White said, before bellowing, “Who has the first question?” He then clarified, “I have zero political aspirations.”

The joke — and the briefing — were the latest in a series of unexpected choices by the president since Republicans’ sweeping losses during last week’s midterm elections. Trump's briefing room stop was so hastily organized that officials didn’t have time to affix the presidential seal to the lectern from which he spoke.

The president had announced on social media Saturday that he wanted “the Great Dana White, a violent Fighter and Warrior" as his next chief spokesman — catching White off-guard at a boxing match in London. “He called me and told me that he had done this," White said Monday. “The last 24 hours of my life has been insane.”

Trump said he had been having a “very bad press day” and thought suggesting White as the 38th White House press secretary in the nation’s history might be good for a laugh.

“We thought we’d have a little fun and we brought Dana here," Trump said. “He would be fantastic.”

Some reporters in the press room played along. White was asked if he had any advice for Trump on the possibility of issuing a posthumous pardon for Pete Rose, baseball's all-time hits leader.

“I don’t advise the president on anything ever,” White responded. “But yeah, I think it’s fair.” Trump then interjected to say, “I’d give Pete Rose a pardon.”

At one point, White marveled, “I can’t believe you actually have questions for me.”

Trump eventually took over. But after answering about half an hour of questions on the midterms, the war in Iran and a variety of serious topics, the president turned to White and asked, “Would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America" or “just want to stay with this ridiculous UFC?”

“Thank you for the offer,” White said, before allowing, “I do not want to be in politics, no.”

In the hours after Trump's Saturday post landed, neither the White House nor UFC would provide clarity on whether it was serious. Then, on Sunday night, Trump finally said, “I was kidding, but I think Dana likes the idea, and he is a very capable guy.”

Trump has long relished doing the norm-busting unexpected as president, but he's leaned even more into that tendency around the election.

The day before balloting began, Trump used what was billed as a speech outlining his closing argument for why his party deserved to continue to control Congress to instead talk up his costly and problem-plagued effort to overhaul the Lincoln Memorial’s Reflecting Pool.

On Wednesday, after Democrats won all over the country, including notching Senate seats in deep red states like Texas, South Carolina and Kansas, he took reporters on a tour of the White House ballroom’s construction site and even signed a steel beam.

The following day, Trump declared the Oval Office would become a national monument — even though that won't prevent future presidents from undoing the gilded flourishes he's packed it with.

On Friday, the White House promoted a glitzy new website celebrating plans for a towering memorial arch in Trump's honor, despite a court order blocking work on it.

The White House press secretary position is open due to the brief, tumultuous week when Trump tried out Katie Zacharia as press secretary. She struggled in her sole appearance before reporters and left the job after five days.

The post had been vacant since Karoline Leavitt left at the end of August.

Trump has frequently attended UFC events with White. The pair have been friends for decades, and White spoke at the last three Republican National Conventions.

Trump even allowed White's sport to take over the White House’s South Lawn in June for the celebration of America’s 250th year of independence and the president’s own 80th birthday. A wire-mesh Octagon was constructed under ” The Claw,” a spaceship-like metal arch fitted with lights, sound equipment and large screens.

“He’s really very unique,” Trump said, describing his friend, in the White House briefing room. “The only problem is he’ll talk for a little while and then he’s going to beat the hell out of you.”

Dana White, UFC president and CEO, speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington, as Dana White, UFC president and CEO, listens. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump, followed by Dana White, UFC president and CEO, arrives to speak in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

President Donald Trump gestures to Dana White, UFC president and CEO, as he speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Bears have lofty expectations for their play. They failed to meet those standards in a sloppy win over Tampa Bay.

The focus on that complete picture was an important development for coach Ben Johnson.

“I think the good teams, even when they get victories, if they don’t hit those benchmarks, then there leaves some more to be desired,” Johnson said, “and I felt that from our crew, which is a good thing. I think that’s the next evolution of this team, not just that we win but the manner in which we play. So we’ve got to continue that.”

The Bears hit their bye week with a four-game win streak and a 7-2 record. But they weren't exactly thrilled with how they performed in the last part of Sunday's 27-24 victory over the Buccaneers.

The biggest issue was five turnovers, including a career-high four interceptions by Caleb Williams. But the Bears made a wide array of mistakes before Cairo Santos kicked a 38-yard field goal as time expired, lifting the team to an unlikely victory given how it played for much of the night.

“A win’s a win so you’re obviously happy about it,” offensive lineman Jonah Jackson said Monday. “To our standard, it wasn’t exactly what we want it to be. There’s a lot of things on tape that we need to fix and clean up. Nothing that we can’t be better on next game.”

Chicago jumped out to a 14-0 lead over Tampa Bay. But it was unable to put the Bucs away because of turnovers and penalties. Johnson also credited Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles and his defense.

“It is a good unit and they make it very challenging,” Johnson said. “In some ways, we started the game off right and we finished it strong, but that middle second and third quarter, that wasn’t quite our style of play.”

Jeffery Simmons has one sack in each of his first two games after he was acquired in a blockbuster trade with Tennessee. It looks as if the All-Pro defensive tackle also is having a positive effect on the rest of Chicago's defense.

Linebacker Devin Bush had a game-high nine tackles against Tampa Bay after he had six tackles and a sack in Simmons' debut with the Bears. Simmons also was on the field when Shemar Turner got his first career sack in the third quarter against the Bucs.

The Bears have been penalized 40 times for 361 yards during their win streak. One of their nine penalties against the Buccaneers was a questionable holding call on D’Marco Jackson that wiped out a 91-yard kickoff return by Zavion Thomas in the third quarter.

Cam Lewis picked off Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield in the final minute of the first half, making a diving catch in front of receiver Tez Johnson. It was Lewis' second career interception.

The versatile Lewis has turned into a key player for a Chicago secondary that has been hit hard by injuries. He signed a two-year contract with the Bears in free agency.

"I’m just really, really having fun playing with (this) group of guys, and just trying to get better,” Lewis said.

Williams got off to a fast start before throwing three interceptions in the second quarter and one more in the third. He was picked off once — in Week 2 against Minnesota — in his first five games this season.

“I know he was trying to dirt or throw away a couple of those, and we just got to do a better job of getting that job done,” Johnson said. “The other one’s just the coverage recognition part of it. That’s what a Todd Bowles defense is known for, and they can make it challenging. And so there’ll be good ones for us to put in our memory bank and draw from next time we go against a team like that.”

Williams, who turns 25 on Nov. 18, has 55 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions in 40 regular-season games since he was selected by Chicago with the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft.

There was no update on wide receiver Luther Burden, who left in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win because of a concussion.

7 — Santos has made seven game-winning field goals in the final two minutes or overtime with the Bears, ranking third in franchise history.

Following the bye week, the Bears host the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 22. The Bears beat the Saints 26-14 at Soldier Field last year.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Chicago Bears defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons (99) celebrates after an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Chicago Bears place kicker Cairo Santos (8) celebrates with teammates after kicking a game-winning field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) looks on in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL football game in Chicago, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)