– Massie is a loser, just as you are a loser at CNN, just as your viewing figures are losers. Massie is a loser through and through.
That’s what CNN journalist Kaitlan Collins heard on Monday, when she tried for the second time to get Donald Trump to comment on the allegations against Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Standing next to the President in the White House briefing room was none other than UFC boss Dana White.
On Saturday, Trump had posted on social media that White, “a violent fighter and warrior”, had been offered the job of press secretary. It was mostly a joke, the President admitted, but he nevertheless asked White in front of the entire press corps whether he wanted the job, or whether he would rather stay in the “ridiculous UFC”.
“He’s going to speak for a little while, and then he’s going to beat you all to a pulp,” said Trump before letting White take the podium.
US President Donald Trump listens to Dana White, CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, speak during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on 9 November 2026. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)
Collins wanted to know if White had turned him down. “You don’t say no to the President about anything,” replied the UFC boss, but added that he did not wish to go into politics at present. Another journalist wanted to know who would win a fight between Trump and Joe Biden. Trump, replied White, who described him as the toughest person he had ever met in his entire life.
– Hegseth will remain in office, even if he faces impeachment. He’s won two wars, said Trump.
The House of Representatives may vote on impeachment as early as this week, and the Democrats are expected to vote in favour. However, it is the Senate that will decide whether Hegseth must step down. A two-thirds majority is required, and the Republicans hold the majority until January.
Hegseth calls the whole thing a series of false articles of impeachment from a disgruntled and defeated congressman. Thomas Massie from Kentucky lost the nomination contest to Trump’s candidate, Ed Gallrein, in May. He is leaving Congress at the New Year, but on Monday he managed to read out eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth, most of them concerning the war against Iran.
Collins and Trump have their own little history. In 2023, he called her “a disgusting person” live on CNN.
You can watch the press conference here:
