Sage Steele, the veteran sportscaster greatest recognized for her decade-plus profession at ESPN, has shot down swirling rumors she desires to be press secretary within the new Trump administration, labeling the murmurings as “faux information.”
President-elect Donald Trump has been shortly filling his incoming Cupboard since he stormed to election victory final week, however he has but to call somebody to be his high public spokesperson on the White Home.
Axios reported Wednesday that Steele together with CNN contributor and Bush White Home official Scott Jennings, in addition to Republican Nationwide Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko are all “vying” for the much-coveted function. Trump marketing campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley are additionally “within the combine,” based on Axios.
SAGE STEELE IS OFF THE SIDELINES AND SPEAKING HER MIND
President-elect Donald Trump greets Sage Steele at a marketing campaign city corridor assembly in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on Oct. 20, 2024. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)
Trump legal professional Alina Habba mentioned Thursday that she will not be contemplating the function of press secretary.
Steele, 51, has been a public supporter of the president-elect and stumped for him on the marketing campaign path, showing at an occasion in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, final month.
Nonetheless, she took to X on Thursday to disclaim she was within the press secretary function.
“Undecided how these rumors started about me ‘vying’ to be Press Secretary, but it surely’s undoubtedly faux information! I haven’t had a single dialog with anybody about that job, and don’t have any need to take action!” Steele wrote.
SAGE STEELE UNLEASHES ON ‘TERRIBLE’ BIDEN, SAYS HE ‘TRAILED OFF’ DURING CHAT BEFORE TAPING ESPN INTERVIEW
Sage Steele attends “Shaq’s Enjoyable Home” at XS nightclub at Encore Las Vegas on Feb. 9, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Greg Doherty/Getty Photos)
“Truthfully, it was the consideration of a lifetime to be a small a part of @TeamTrump in the course of the marketing campaign – one thing I NEVER imagined – however I wholeheartedly consider in @realDonaldTrump @JDVance & am excited to search out methods to proceed to serve. It took me years to not be afraid to talk up. That concern is gone ceaselessly, and I hope others are starting to really feel the identical. LFG!”
In 2023, Steele left ESPN after 15 years on the community the place she hosted its flagship program “SportsCenter in addition to “NBA Countdown,” amongst different roles.
In April 2022, Steele filed a lawsuit towards ESPN alleging the community violated her free speech rights after she was punished in 2021 for talking out towards father or mother firm Disney’s COVID vaccine mandate and knocked former President Barack Obama for figuring out as Black as a substitute of biracial.
They settled the lawsuit, and he or she left the community final August.
“Having efficiently settled my case with ESPN/Disney, I’ve determined to depart so I can train my first modification rights extra freely,” Steele wrote final August. “I’m grateful for thus many fantastic experiences over the previous 16 years and am excited for my subsequent chapter!”
In March, Steele was named the primary podcast host on Invoice Maher’s Membership Random Studios podcast community.
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Karoline Leavitt, middle, is the main identify for press secretary after she labored because the Trump marketing campaign’s nationwide press secretary all through the high-stakes election cycle. Trump adviser and ally Jason Miller, left, can also be understood to be in rivalry. (Photograph by Doug Mills / POOL / AFP)
Karoline Leavitt seems to be the main identify for press secretary after she labored because the Trump marketing campaign’s nationwide press secretary all through the high-stakes election cycle.
Alina Habba, Trump’s authorized spokesperson and adviser, was additionally seen as a frontrunner for the place however mentioned Thursday she would “be higher served in different capacities.”
Different names being floated embody Trump adviser and ally Jason Miller, marketing campaign spokesperson and adviser Steven Cheung and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley.
Fox Information’ Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Emma Colton contributed to this report.