In a recent interview, SEC Network host Paul Finebaum disclosed that ESPN “killed” a planned interview with then-President Donald Trump back in 2019.
Finebaum mentioned during a conversation with Outkick’s Clay Travis, set to air fully on Tuesday, that the interview was supposed to happen during the week of the highly-anticipated college football clash between LSU and Alabama.
He explained that the weight of the game, paired with a strong presence from “college game day,” prompted the show’s producers to push for something significant. Finebaum reached out to a connection in Washington, D.C., who could help facilitate the potential interview with the president, who was serving his first term at that time.
The intention was to conduct the interview at the White House on Thursday morning. However, upon informing his boss about the arrangement, Finebaum was told it couldn’t proceed. “I called my boss and they killed it,” he lamented to Travis. “I’ve been devastated. They said we weren’t allowed to mix politics with football.”
Although Trump had plans to attend the LSU-Alabama game that year, Finebaum emphasized that the motivation behind the interview was purely related to the sport. “It was about going to the White House to interview the president,” he specified. “It had nothing to do with politics; it was about football. It was the biggest game in college football, and, I’m not sure where the decision came from, but it ultimately didn’t happen.”
As the Finebaum clip gained traction upon its release on Monday, he also mentioned he was “considering” a run for the Senate in Alabama as a Republican. While noting his past support for Trump, Finebaum revealed that “one or two” individuals from Washington had reached out to gauge his interest in a political career.
Additionally, he stated that the assassination of Charlie Kirk had further inspired his thoughts about political involvement.
