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By Marni Rose McFall
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Britt McHenry, the former sports reporter, has been announced as a new press advisor for the State Department.
In a post shared across social media, McHenry confirmed the news, writing, “I am a newly appointed press advisor for the State Department of the United States of America. Honored to serve our country’s highest diplomatic institution. Blessed to work for some amazing people.”
While on X she added, "It is true. I am honored to serve as a newly appointed press advisor to the State Department [and I am] proud to serve for and work alongside some truly incredible people."
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McHenry was previously a correspondent for ESPN and commentator on Fox Nation. Her appointment comes after the departure of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and as a replacement for that role is yet to be confirmed.
Newsweek has reached out to the State Department via an online contact form and to Britt McHenry via social media message for comment.
Who Is Britt McHenry?
McHenry is a television personality and reporter, having previously hosted a show on WTTG Fox 5.
Born in New Jersey and raised in Florida, McHenry graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism after attending Stetson University, where she played soccer.
In 2014, she joined ESPN as a Washington-based reporter, appearing on programs including SportsCenter, Outside the Lines, NFL Live and Baseball Tonight.
Towing Truck Employee Outburst
In 2015, she was the subject of controversy after a viral video showed her berating a towing company employee.
In the viral clip, McHenry is told by the employee that she is being filmed. In the clip, McHenry makes multiple comments about the employee’s job and education, and says “That’s why I have a degree and you don’t,” “I wouldn’t work at a scumbag place like this,” “Makes my skin crawl even being in here,” and “Do you feel good about your job? So, I could be a college dropout and do that same thing?”
“Maybe if I was missing some teeth, they would hire me, huh?” she says at one point. She also directly commented on the employee's appearance, and said "Lose some weight baby girl."
She was suspended by ESPN for a one-week period, and later publicly apologized, writing on X, “In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things.”
"I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake," she said.
The company, Advanced Towing Co., said in a statement at the time that neither they nor the employee wanted McHenry to lose her job.
Leaving ESPN
McHenry stayed at ESPN until 2017, when she left as part of company-wide layoffs.
A year later she suggested the sports network had demoted her because of her race and because of her salary.
"I was demoted because I was white & I made too much. First to go," McHenry tweeted, before deleting her post soon afterward.
After the incident, McHenry retracted some of her comments in an interview with Deadspin.
She later worked for Fox Nation and Fox 5 Washington, D.C., becoming known for political and cultural commentary.
Britt McHenry Cancer Journey
In February of 2020, McHenry was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The following month, she underwent an eight-hour craniotomy at Johns Hopkins to remove a large, grade 2 astrocytoma from her left frontal lobe.
Writing in an article published in the American Brain Tumor Association, McHenry said: “The physical and emotional trauma after diagnosis and surgery — along with Covid-19 lockdown less than two weeks later — were the most challenging time of my life.”
McHenry has continued to share updates through her recovery journey.
In a post on Instagram in October of 2024, she wrote, “Turned the 6 month dreaded MRI checkup into a moment of self empowerment. To anyone else who’s survived or currently fighting cancer, I know how bad scanxiety is. Thoughts with you. I’m in it too!”
Trump's Press Team
The announcement of McHenry's appointment comes two weeks after Leavitt's last day as the 36th press secretary.
Leavitt, the youngest person to ever serve in the role aged 27, stepped down in late August after 19 months to spend more time with her young family.
A replacement for Leavitt has yet to be confirmed, and her departure has left a sizeable absence in the Trump administration. On September 3, Vice President JD Vance took to the podium to fill in as press secretary and address the press after more than 40 days.
...
Speaking in August while on his way to South Carolina, Trump mentioned Margo Martin, special assistant to the president and communications adviser in the White House and Scott Jennings, a CNN commentator.
"Scott Jennings is good… Maybe Margo? What do you think of Margo?"
The president also mentioned a friend from Iowa without mentioning her by name, and said: “I don’t know if she would want it.”
Trump praised Leavitt’s tenure and said, “I have never had so many job applications in my entire life… They all want that job. They love that job.”
Contact Newsweek editor on this story: Edward Pearcey.
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