Former ESPN host Sage Steele has completed her transition from sports to politics. The longtime SportsCenter anchor, who left ESPN in 2023 over disagreements regarding the network’s policies on political speech, was prominently featured at Wednesday’s White House press briefing.
Steele took the “new media” seat, a designation by the Trump administration intended to give representation to emerging media like podcast hosts and TikTok influencers in the briefing room. Critics argue that this move may be used to fill the room with loyalists.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt began the briefing by introducing Steele, stating, “In the seat today, we have a longtime national television broadcaster — I’m sure many of you recognized her when she came in — Sage Steele, who is now the host of an incredibly successful podcast, The Sage Steele Show, on YouTube and all podcast platforms. Previously, Sage was a fixture at ESPN from 2007 to 2023, primarily hosting SportsCenter. She left to exercise her First Amendment rights more freely. We are honored to welcome her to the briefing room today. She will join the President at the big EO signing later this afternoon… so Sage, why don’t you kick us off on this very exciting day for women and girls across the country.”
Former ESPN host Sage Steele is the recipient of the “new media” seat in today’s White House press briefing.pic.twitter.com/fQSBTwscH8
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 5, 2025
Leavitt referenced an executive order that President Trump plans to sign on Wednesday, aimed at preventing transgender individuals who were born male from competing in women’s sports. Steele expressed her gratitude to Leavitt for including diverse perspectives in the briefing room, saying, “Karoline, thank you for welcoming people like me with a little bit of a different perspective, different background, in this seat. It really does mean a lot, thank you.”
Following her introduction, Steele posed a question regarding how the President could assure the executive order’s effectiveness amidst the lack of similar legislation from Congress. The dynamic between Leavitt’s enthusiastic introduction and Steele’s friendly approach, along with her soft question, suggests the administration is not attempting to quell criticism regarding the “new media” seat. This interaction is in line with the predicted outcomes of such appointments.
This event marks the completion of Steele’s transformation from sports broadcaster to political commentator, particularly as she has made regular appearances on Fox News and hosted various politicians and political commentators on her podcast. Now, seated in the White House briefing room, it becomes challenging to view Sage Steele solely as a sports journalist.
