Former ESPN personality Sage Steele denies Trump’s press secretary rumors

Sage Steele, the veteran sportscaster best known for her decade-plus career at ESPN, has shot down swirling rumors that she wants to be press secretary in the new Trump administration, labeling the rumors as “fake news.”

President-elect Donald Trump has quickly filled his new Cabinet since storming to election victory last week, but he has yet to name anyone as his chief public spokesperson in the White House.

Axios reported Wednesday that Steele, along with CNN contributor and Bush White House official Scott Jennings, as well as Republican National Committee spokesperson Elizabeth Pipko are all “vying” for the coveted role. Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley are also “in the mix,” according to Axios.

SAGE STEELE IS OFF THE SIDELINES AND SPEAKS HER OPINION

President-elect Donald Trump greets Sage Steele during a campaign town hall meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 2024. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder)

Trump lawyer Alina Habba said Thursday that she is not considering the role of press secretary.

Steele, 51, was a public supporter of the president-elect and stood by him on the campaign trail when he appeared at an event in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, last month.

However, on Thursday she turned to X to deny that she was interested in the role of press secretary.

“I’m not sure how these rumors started that I’m ‘vying’ to be press secretary, but it’s definitely fake news! I haven’t had a conversation with anyone about that job, and I don’t want to!” Steele wrote.

SAGE STEELE RUNS UP ON ‘TERRIBLE’ BIDEN, SAYS HE ‘TRAILED’ DURING THE CHAT BEFORE TAPPING THE ESPN INTERVIEW

Sage Steele visits “Shaq’s 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 my life to be a small part of @TeamTrump during the campaign – something I NEVER imagined – but I believe in @realDonaldTrump @JDVance with all my heart and am excited to see ways to continue serving. years to not be afraid to say something. That fear is gone forever, and I hope others start to feel the same!

In 2023, Steele left ESPN after 15 years with the network, where she hosted the flagship program “SportsCenter” and “NBA Countdown,” among others.

In April 2022, Steele filed a lawsuit against ESPN, claiming the network violated her free speech rights after she was punished in 2021 for speaking out against parent company Disney’s COVID vaccine mandate and slamming former President Barack Obama because he identified as black instead of biracial.

They settled the lawsuit and she left the network last August.

“After successfully settling my case with ESPN/Disney, I have decided to leave so that I can more freely exercise my First Amendment rights,” Steele wrote last August. “I am grateful for so many wonderful experiences over the past 16 years and look forward to my next chapter!”

In March, Steele was named the first podcast host on Bill Maher’s Club Random Studios podcast network.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

Karoline Leavitt, center, is the leading name for press secretary after serving as the Trump campaign’s national press secretary during the high-stakes election cycle. Trump advisor and ally Jason Miller (left) is also said to be conflicted. (Photo by Doug Mills/POOL/AFP)

Karoline Leavitt appears to be the leading name for press secretary after serving as the Trump campaign’s national press secretary during the high-stakes election cycle.

Alina Habba, Trump’s legal spokesperson and adviser, was also seen as a front-runner for the job but said Thursday she would be “better served in other capacities.”

Other names mentioned include Trump adviser and ally Jason Miller, campaign spokesperson and adviser Steven Cheung and former Trump administration official Monica Crowley.

Joseph A. Wulfsohn and Emma Colton of Fox News contributed to this report.