President Trump held an unannounced press conference at the White House on Monday, November 9, 2026. The impromptu session addressed the Republican Party's recent defeat in the midterm elections and featured a notable cameo by Dana White, the head of the UFC. During the event, White was informally offered the position of White House press secretary by the president.
The president fielded questions on a variety of foreign policy issues, including the ongoing conflict with Iran, relations with Russia and Cuba, and recent allegations regarding Chinese espionage. He also responded to the impeachment proceedings currently targeting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the House of Representatives.
Regarding the war in Iran, which has lasted for more than eight months, Trump stated that the conflict is ending quickly. He confirmed that the United States is maintaining a naval blockade and has escalated a land blockade, which he named Operation Iron Gate. The president said he is offering protection to U.S. allies in the region while keeping troops present to maintain the status quo. He noted that Iranian officials are communicating with Washington politely, though he added that U.S. forces remain locked and loaded.
Trump offered a strong defense of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who faces an impeachment vote with significant Democratic support. The president criticized Representative Thomas Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, for reintroducing articles of impeachment. He called Massie a stone-cold loser and suggested the representative should not take up the time of Congress. Trump claimed that Hegseth won two wars, referring to the military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro and the conflict against Iran. The president said he would stand by Hegseth even if the House impeaches him.
In his defense, Trump also questioned why former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was not impeached for his absence during a health crisis in early 2024. Austin had undergone prostate cancer surgery and was later hospitalized in intensive care, details that were known to top officials at the time.
Dana White appeared at the podium, stating he had always wanted to do such a job. He explained that he was in London for a fight when Trump called him about a Truth Social post suggesting he might become the next press secretary. White said he did not tell the president no to the offer, adding that he does not tell the president no to anything. Trump explained that the post was a joke made after a bad press day, but reporters treated it as serious. When asked if he wanted the job, White said he did not have political aspirations.
The president also discussed a conversation he had with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Huang recently announced he had an affair with a woman whom the intelligence community reportedly alleges is a Chinese spy. Trump described Huang as an honorable man who built a great American company and expressed confidence that Huang would be in good shape. He said he did not plan to raise the issue of corporate espionage during his upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping next week.
Finally, Trump addressed the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act, which aims to streamline energy permitting. The bill faced a key procedural vote in the Senate on Monday. While Trump said the administration is 100 percent behind the bill, he drew a clear line on future wind turbines. He stated that he would not approve new wind turbines, calling them a major loser, despite the bill's bipartisan support for renewable energy. A White House official noted that the administration has been working in good faith with Senate Democrats for months.
