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Sage Steele faces criticism for supporting Donald Trump on social media

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 20, 2026, 5:53 PM

Last updated Aug 20, 2026

Sage Steele faces criticism for supporting Donald Trump on social media

Summary

Former ESPN anchor Sage Steele addressed backlash she received after expressing support for Donald Trump during an appearance on The Rubin Report on August 20, 2026. Steele criticized colleagues, including Doc Rivers, for sending her messages expressing disappointment in her political stance. She stated that political views should not dominate sports conversations and indicated that relationships with peers have suffered because of her opinions. Steele remarked that athletes may hesitate to share conservative views due to fear of repercussions from coaches. She has embraced the criticism, emphasizing her determination to maintain her viewpoints publicly despite the fallout.

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By the Numbers

•Sage Steele discusses backlash for political views on The Rubin Report.
•Criticism includes comments from Doc Rivers about her conservatism.
•Steele notes loss of communication with Rivers on social media.
•She questions if athletes fear backlash for conservative views.
•The incident reflects ongoing debates over politics in sports.

Latest Updates

5:53 PMYahoo Sports — ‘I’m so disappointed’: Criticism mounts for former ESPN star after supporting Donald Trump

What they're saying

"
Former ESPN anchor and co-host of SportsCenter, Sage Steele, is speaking out about the recent backlash she has received from her peers. Steele took to Dave Rubin’s The Rubin Report to discuss past grievances with the NBA and hateful remarks from colleagues, including former NBA head coach Doc Rivers, about her political views. “I’m going…
— Yahoo Sports

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