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Sage Steele Dismisses Press Secretary Speculations
Sage Steele, a seasoned sportscaster renowned for her extensive tenure at ESPN, has firmly rejected ongoing speculation regarding her interest in the press secretary position within the upcoming Trump administration, branding these claims as ”false news.”
Trump’s Cabinet Formation Continues
Following his decisive election victory last week, President-elect Donald Trump has been rapidly appointing members to his Cabinet but has yet to announce a candidate for his primary spokesperson role at the White House.
Potential Candidates for Press Secretary Role
A report from Axios on Wednesday indicated that Steele is among several contenders vying for this prestigious position, alongside CNN contributor and former Bush White House official Scott Jennings and Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko. Other names mentioned include Karoline Leavitt, who served as a spokeswoman during Trump’s campaign, and former administration official Monica Crowley.
Alina Habba’s Position Clarified
Trump attorney Alina Habba stated on Thursday that she is not pursuing the press secretary role.
Sage Steele’s Support for Trump
The 51-year-old sportscaster has publicly endorsed the president-elect and actively campaigned for him, including an appearance at an event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania last month.
Denying Rumors on Social Media
On Thursday, Steele took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify her stance regarding the press secretary rumors: ”I’m unsure how these speculations about me ‘vying’ for Press Secretary started but it’s absolutely false! I haven’t had any discussions about that position nor do I wish to!” she expressed.
Sage Steele Reflects on Her Campaign Involvement
“It was truly an honor of a lifetime to be part of @TeamTrump during the campaign—something I never anticipated—but I fully support @realDonaldTrump and @JDVance,” she added enthusiastically while expressing her eagerness to continue contributing in some capacity. “It took me years to overcome my fear of speaking out; now that’s gone forever! I hope others are finding their voices too!”
A New Chapter After Leaving ESPN
This year marked Sage’s departure from ESPN after 15 years with the network where she hosted flagship shows like “SportsCenter” and “NBA Countdown.” In April 2022, she filed a lawsuit against ESPN, claiming violations of her free speech rights after facing repercussions in 2021 due to comments made about Disney’s COVID vaccine mandate and remarks concerning former President Barack Obama’s racial identity.
Lawsuit Settlement Leads To Departure From Network
The lawsuit was settled amicably before her exit from ESPN last August. She remarked then: “Having successfully resolved my case with ESPN/Disney allows me more freedom in exercising my First Amendment rights.” She expressed gratitude for numerous enriching experiences over her tenure while looking forward excitedly toward new opportunities ahead!
Pursuing New Ventures Beyond Sports Broadcasting
This past March saw Steele take on a new role as host of Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios podcast network—the first podcast host under this banner!
Kicking Off The Search For A New Spokesperson
Karlone Leavitt appears poised as a frontrunner given her experience serving as national press secretary throughout Trump’s intense election campaign cycle.
Other Contenders Emerge For The Role
Alina Habba was also considered among potential candidates but clarified that she’d prefer other roles within Trump’s team instead.
Additional names being discussed include Jason Miller—a trusted advisor—and Steven Cheung along with Monica Crowley who previously held positions within Trump’s administration.
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