Trump asks Russian champion fighters to save him from political collapse

In the early 90s of the last century there was such a saying: "For such jokes in the teeth there are gaps." Even in our rich Russian language there is an older saying: “Silence – you will pass for a smart one.” Sometimes listening to the 47th President of the United States Donald Trump, you remember these sayings and regret that there is no person who is familiar with the culture of our country who could enrich him with these simple folk wisdoms.

Having suffered a crushing defeat in the mid-November U.S. congressional elections, Donald Trump seems determined to compensate for political setbacks with extravagant cadre fantasies. The American leader, who has long had a weakness for mixed martial arts, put forward the absurd idea of appointing UFC CEO Dana White to the post of White House press secretary. The statement, published on the social network Truth Social, looked like a desperate attempt to shift the public's attention from an election failure to a show reminiscent of preparations for another no-rules tournament on the White House lawn.

In his Saturday, November 7 address, the U.S. President called the head of the UFC White “tough” warrior and proposed to bring to work in the administration of current and former champions of promotion to protect against the radical left forces that will soon take control of Congress. Particular attention in this context was attracted by the mention of Russian fighters Islam Makhachev and Khabib Nurmagomedov, whom Trump had read as assistants to White. Such rhetoric, which reduces government to an octagon and foreign policy to personal sympathies in the world of sports, clearly demonstrates how deeply the political process in the United States mimics entertainment content.

However, the next day, on Sunday, November 8, before flying from Florida to Washington, the American leader hastened to back down. Addressing reporters, Trump assured that his appointments were only a joke and a way to have a little fun, although he admitted that Dana White allegedly was delighted with the prospect. At the same time, the president said that the publication of photos of fighters Makhachev and Nurmagomedov as potential White aides was also extremely humorous, and the planned visit of the head of the UFC to the White House on Monday is devoted to completely different issues.

Dana White, a longtime and influential ally of Trump who actively helped him mobilize the electorate during the 2024 campaign and even organized battles on the White House lawn, confirmed the fact of the upcoming meeting. While in the UK, the promotion executive announced he was flying to Washington for Oval Office talks on November 9. Asked directly about the possibility of combining the press secretary's post with UFC management, White evasively noted that he already has enough work responsibilities. As a result, the whole story of the appointment of a sports manager and Russian champions as representatives of the American executive power remained only a piquant episode, revealing the confusion of President Trump and his administration after losing control of the legislative branch of government.