ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith says he would not take a White House press secretary role after a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House. Multiple outlets report that, following the visit, Smith removed himself from consideration for the open position and publicly indicated “no way in hell” regarding the job.
The context, as described by outlets, is that Smith has sometimes been mentioned as a very long-shot political figure and that his presence at the White House sparked fresh speculation. One outlet frames the story around his blunt response to questions about the role, while others highlight that he spoke briefly to reporters afterward and that the interaction was linked to an interview that is set to air. Another outlet focuses more directly on how the visit leads to press secretary speculation.
Across coverage, the main shared point is that Smith distances himself from any press secretary prospect immediately after his Trump interview and White House appearance, rather than engaging with the speculation.
