ESPN analyst Sarah Spain faces intense backlash after labeling U.S. Vice President JD Vance a “demon” and “the Devil” during a podcast episode about her Winter Olympics experience.
Spain’s Podcast Rant at Milan-Cortina Games
While covering the women’s hockey game between the United States and Czechia on February 5, Spain described feeling physically ill upon spotting Vance entering the arena with a child, security detail, and Sen. Marco Rubio.
“Twelve minutes into the first period, that area suddenly is awash with large men in suits with earpieces. And here comes JD Vance carrying a child and a bunch of security, and eventually Marco Rubio,” Spain recounted on her podcast Good Game with Sarah Spain.
She continued: “When I see JD Vance’s eyeliner face, I literally feel ill. I feel like I just looked at a demon, like the Devil. And I don’t even believe in that, but my body felt like when you’ve been spooked and you have a little tingle that feels like, ‘ooh, something’s not right.'”
Spain also criticized the Secret Service presence for blocking views of the ice and expressed frustration at a later U.S.-Canada hockey match where Vance appeared alongside boxer Jake Paul. “[Vance] brought a little demon friend, Jake Paul. Talk about only the finest people representing America,” she said.
Italian press standing to photograph the pair after goals further irritated her, turning annoyance into outrage.
Backlash Erupts on Social Media
Social media users swiftly condemned Spain’s remarks, with many demanding ESPN terminate her employment. Critics highlighted her comments about Vance’s children and political disagreements at a family sporting event.
One user stated: “ESPN should fire Sarah Spain for posting pictures of VP Vance’s kids.” Another added: “Sarah Spain, and her ilk, are a huge reason why ESPN has tanked.”
Conservative commentator Clay Travis, founder of Outkick, remarked: “This is not how a mentally healthy or sane person responds to seeing someone they disagree with politically with their kids at a sporting event.” Replies echoed sentiments like “That’s over the line. No excuse for that behavior, period.”
Underlying Tensions Over Deportation Policy
Spain’s criticism stems partly from Vance’s response to the January 24 fatal shooting of Minneapolis protester Alex Pretti by U.S. Border Patrol agents amid Trump administration deportation efforts. Vance reposted White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller’s post calling Pretti “an assassin” who “tried to murder federal agents.”
Spain stated: “This human being, allegedly, with demon energy, is slandering a dead man who was shot in the back while helping a woman and was not fighting and was not dangerous.”
Vance declined to apologize, saying: “For what? If something is determined that the guy who shot Alex Pretti did something bad, then a lot of consequences are going to flow from that. We’ll let that happen. I don’t think it’s smart to prejudge the investigation.”
Spain’s ESPN Career
The 45-year-old Emmy- and Peabody Award-winning journalist has worked at ESPN since 2010, appearing on shows like First Take, Olbermann, Mike & Mike, and The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz. She hosts the daily women’s sports podcast Good Game with Sarah Spain, nominated for Best Sports Podcast at the 2025 Ambies Awards.
