By Jarrett Renshaw and David Lawder

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 an...