Sports reporter and podcast host Emily Austin said she faced significant backlash after publicly supporting President Donald Trump, but also received private messages of encouragement, including from players in the National Basketball Association. Speaking to Fox News Digital, Austin said she felt compelled to voice her political beliefs after concluding that Trump supporters were underrepresented and often silenced.

Austin, who has millions of social media followers, said her political awakening began during her time at Hofstra University amid the coronavirus disease pandemic. She described growing frustrated with what she viewed as hypocrisy surrounding vaccine mandates and identity politics, which led her to distance herself from liberal ideology.

Although she initially chose to focus on sports journalism over politics, the 2020 election drew her deeper into political engagement. After publicly urging followers to vote for Trump, she said she experienced intense criticism and was advised by her agent to delete her post and avoid political commentary. Instead, she continued sharing her views, encouraged by private support from athletes and classmates who told her they agreed but were reluctant to speak out.

Austin said she now balances her sports coverage with political commentary, viewing her platform as an opportunity to represent perspectives she believes are often overlooked while continuing to engage with a wide range of people through her reporting.