UFC CEO Dana White has ruled out a move into politics after US President Donald Trump offered him the position of White House press secretary.

Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he wanted White to take up the role, even suggesting that some of the UFC’s biggest stars could join him as assistants. White subsequently travelled to Washington DC on Monday, where he made an unexpected appearance at a White House press briefing.

“I don’t tell the president no to anything,” White said when asked about the offer. “I didn’t say no. Literally every media outlet was calling me and I didn’t want to be disrespectful and say anything until he said something first.”

Trump later explained that the proposal had been made in jest following a difficult day dealing with the media. “We were having a very bad press day and I don’t know why, I thought of his name, he’s been a friend for a long time,” Trump said. “I said I think I’m going to get Dana White to be my new press secretary. I said it to a group of the press and that was it. I was sort of kidding.”

The president added that the reaction to his comments had prompted him to invite White into the briefing room. “Then they wrote the stories as though I wasn’t kidding and then [Dana] was inundated and I was inundated. He was here anyway and we thought we’d have a little fun and we brought Dana here. He would be fantastic.”

With the White House reportedly seeking a replacement for Karoline Leavitt following her resignation in August, Trump eventually pressed White for an answer. “Thank you for the offer, sir. I do not want to be in politics,” White replied, prompting Trump to declare himself “devastated” before bringing the briefing to a close.