Trump parades Dana White out in wild White House press conference after fake press secretary tease
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By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT
Published: | Updated:
President Donald Trump gave an impromptu press briefing on Monday afternoon alongside Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White.
The surprise appearance came after Trump joked on Friday that he had offered White the open press secretary job.
Pressed by CNN's Kaitlan Collins on whether he has accepted the post recently vacated by Katie Zacharia and Karoline Leavitt, White said he never tells the president 'no.'
'I don't tell the president no to anything,' he responded. 'I didn't say no.'
Trump then shot back that he had jokingly announced White was press secretary last week after what he called 'a very bad press day.'
'I think I'm going to get Dana White to be my new press secretary,' Trump recalled musing last week.
Admitting he was 'sort of kidding' with the announcement, Trump noted the press ran with it and immediately 'wrote the stories.' Bringing White to the briefing room on Monday was just 'for a little fun,' Trump continued.
But at the end of the briefing, White conceded he does not want the role nor any other job in politics.
President Donald Trump gave an impromptu press briefing alongside UFC CEO Dana White
Pressed on whether he accepted Trump's offer to become the next White House press secretary, White responded: 'I don't tell the president no to anything'
Trump also addressed the war in Iran, saying the US is 'locked and loaded' and ready to restart full-fledged hostilities.
'We're locked and loaded, ready to go for any reason,' the president said.
Though he hedged, saying he is unsure if another kinetic military operation is needed.
'At this point … taking the military action doesn't seem to be a very necessary thing,' Trump added.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, departed San Diego en route to the Middle East in September to join two other carriers, the USS George Washington and the USS George H W Bush.
The deployment adds roughly 9,000-10,000 additional sailors and Marines. Trump pledged that he would not strike Iran until after the midterm elections last Tuesday, but it's unclear whether he has authorized any further strikes.
While further kinetic action hangs in limbo, the president has also been eager to pursue a peace deal, saying Monday that negotiators in Iran are speaking with US counterparts.
'They're talking to us, and they're talking very politely,' the president said. 'I hope we're going to be able to make a deal with them.'
UFC CEO Dana White stands by as Trump addresses the press
Trump also fought with the press during the surprise briefing, taking on CNN's Collins and MS NOW's Vaugh Hillyard in combative explosions.
When Collins asked Trump about Secretary of War Pete Hegseth being the target of an impeachment effort led by Republican Congressman Thomas Massie, the president grew enraged.
'Massie's a loser,' Trump said, talking over Collins. 'He’s a loser just like you at CNN.'
A few inquiries later, Hillyard became the object of Trump's ire after asking about Trump's relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
'Who are you with?' Trump shot back.
After the reporter identified his network, Trump fired a salvo at the White House reporter.
'MS Now gets the worst ratings ... used to be MSDNC ... you're a fake network.'
'What a joke you are,' Trump scoffed before turning to another question.
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