Trump says 'only kidding' about naming UFC CEO as White House press secretary

WEST PALM BEACH, Nov 8 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Sunday said he ‌was "only kidding" when he suggested UFC CEO Dana White ‌could become his next White House press secretary, after a social media ​post a day earlier stirred speculation about recruiting his feisty ally and signaled a combative approach to dealing with Democrats as they prepare to take control of Congress.

Trump said White, a prominent ‌supporter, "loves the idea" ⁠of taking the job but insisted he had not been serious about the prospect, describing the ⁠suggestion as "just a little fun."

"I will tell you, I was only kidding," Trump told reporters, explaining that he had posted photographs ​of prominent ​UFC fighters as potential assistants ​to White as part of ‌the joke.

In Saturday's post, Trump described White as a "violent Fighter and Warrior" and suggested he bring several current or former UFC champions to serve as assistants, saying they were needed to "defend us against the Lunatic Left."

Trump said White would visit ‌him at the White House on ​Monday, but added that the meeting ​was planned for other ​reasons.

White, who has led the Ultimate Fighting Championship ‌for more than two decades, has ​been a ​close Trump ally and helped mobilize support for his 2024 presidential campaign.

He has also appeared alongside Trump at several ​political events and ‌helped bring UFC fights to the White House lawn ​this year.

(Reporting by David Lawder, Costas Pitas and Jarrett ​Renshaw, editing by Michelle Nichols)