Veteran sportscaster Sage Steele, best known for his more than 10-year career at ESPN, has denied swirling rumors that he wants to serve as press secretary in the new Trump administration, labeling the tweets as “fake news.”
President-elect Donald Trump has been rapidly filling out his next Cabinet since winning a landslide election victory last week, but he has yet to name anyone to be the top White House press secretary.
Axios reported Wednesday that Steele, CNN contributor and Bush White House official Scott Jennings, and Republican National Committee spokeswoman Elizabeth Pipko are all “in contention” for the coveted position. . According to Axios, Trump campaign spokeswoman Caroline Levitt and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley are also “on the list.”
Sage Steele steps off the sidelines to speak his mind
President-elect Donald Trump greets Sage Steele during a campaign town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 2024. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
President Trump's lawyer, Alina Haba, said Thursday that she is not considering a press secretary role.
Mr. Steele, 51, has been a public supporter of the president-elect and has stumbled on the campaign trail, appearing at an event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, last month.
However, she denied to X on Thursday that she was interested in the press secretary role.
“I don't know how the rumor got out that I was 'vying' for the press secretary position, but it's definitely fake news! I have never spoken to anyone about the job and , I don’t even want to talk!” Steele wrote.
Sage Steele slams Biden, calls him 'terrible', says Biden 'desperate' during chat before taping ESPN interview
Sage Steele attends 'Shacks Fun House' at XS Nightclub at Encore Las Vegas on February 9, 2024 in Las Vegas. (Greg Doherty/Getty Images)
“Honestly, it was the honor of a lifetime to be a part of @TeamTrump during the campaign – something I never imagined – but I truly believe in @realDonaldTrump @JDVance and am honored to serve. I'm excited to find a way to continue. It took me a while. It took me years to speak up without fear, but that fear is gone forever and I hope other LFGs feel the same way. I hope you are starting.”
In 2023, Steele left ESPN after 15 years at ESPN, where he hosted shows such as “SportsCenter'' and “NBA Countdown.''
Steele was punished in 2021 for opposing parent company Disney's COVID-19 vaccination mandate and for being bashed by former President Barack Obama for identifying as black rather than biracial. He later filed a lawsuit against ESPN in April 2022, alleging that the network violated his right to free speech.
They settled the lawsuit and she left the network last August.
“Now that the lawsuit with ESPN/Disney has been successfully resolved, I have decided to retire so that I can more freely exercise my First Amendment rights,” Steele wrote last August. “I am grateful for the many wonderful experiences I have had over the past 16 years and am excited for the next chapter!”
In March, Steele was named the first podcast host for Bill Maher's Club Random Studio Podcast Network.
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Caroline Leavitt (center) has become a popular name for press secretary after serving as the Trump campaign's national press secretary throughout the high-stakes campaign. Jason Miller (left), an adviser and ally of President Trump, is also believed to be in contention. (Photo by Doug Mills/POOL/AFP)
Caroline Leavitt is seen as a potential name for press secretary after serving as the Trump campaign's national press secretary throughout the high-stakes campaign.
Alina Haba, President Trump's legal press secretary and adviser, was also considered a top candidate for the role, but said Thursday that she was “better suited for other positions.”
Other names that have come up include Trump advisor and ally Jason Miller, campaign spokesperson and advisor Stephen Chan, and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley.
Fox News' Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Emma Colton contributed to this report.
