Sage Steele, a well-known sportscaster with over a decade of experience at ESPN, has denied rumors circulating about her interest in becoming the press secretary for the new Trump administration. Despite reports from Axios suggesting that Steele, along with other individuals, were vying for the position, she took to social media to address the speculation as “fake news.”
President-elect Donald Trump has been actively selecting members for his incoming Cabinet following his election win, but the role of press secretary remains unfilled. While names like Scott Jennings and Elizabeth Pipko have been mentioned in connection to the position, Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, confirmed that she is not considering the role.
Steele, a vocal supporter of the president-elect, clarified on social media that she has not had any discussions about the press secretary job and has no interest in pursuing it. She expressed gratitude for being part of Team Trump during the campaign and emphasized her belief in Trump and JD Vance, expressing a desire to continue serving in other capacities.
Having left ESPN in 2023 after 15 years with the network, Steele filed a lawsuit against the company in 2022, citing violations of her free speech rights. Following a settlement, she departed from ESPN to exercise her First Amendment rights more freely. In August of the same year, Steele announced her departure from the network to embark on a new chapter in her career.
In a notable development, Steele became the first podcast host on Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios podcast network in March. While Karoline Leavitt is considered a top contender for the press secretary role due to her prior work as the Trump campaign’s national press secretary, other names like Jason Miller, Steven Cheung, and Monica Crowley are also being discussed for the position.
As the selection process continues, it is clear that the role of press secretary in the new Trump administration remains a topic of interest and speculation. With various individuals being considered for the position, the final decision will shape the administration’s communication strategy moving forward.