Stephen A. Smith has addressed the calls for him to run for President of the United States of America in 2028.
A recent poll revealed that the ESPN personality would receive more support than several big-name Democrat presidential hopefuls in the nation’s next presidential election.
The sports analyst has not shied away from delivering bold political takes in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in the polls last November.
His hot takes, which have gone viral, have generated a lot of support for potential presidential bid from Smith.
And, while the 57-year-old played down the idea, he didn’t completely rule out entering the race for the White House.
‘I doubt I’ll ever run. It’s not me,’ Smith confessed on his eponymous YouTube show Friday. ‘I live a pretty good life and I don’t want to ruin it by getting involved in politics.’
Stephen A. Smith has addressed the calls for him to run for President of the USA in 2028
Smith recently shocked TV viewers with his comments about why Trump won the election
However, he went on to reveal that the abysmal showing from the Democrats at the ballot box last year could be enough to convince him to delve into the world of politics.
‘But I’ve got to tell y’all something, the Democratic Party looks so pathetic after this election, I might entertain running,’ he continued. ‘I just might change my mind one day. I doubt it, but I might. Cause how much would it take to beat y’all?
‘Trump can’t run again. He’s done, regardless of what some representatives want.’
Smith then launched into a scathing attack on Trump’s actions over the course of his first week back in the Oval Office, in particular calling out the President’s handling of the FAA and the American Airlines flight that tragically crashed with a Black Hawk helicopter above Washington DC Wednesday night
‘I’m sick and tired of everybody acting like I’m some right-winger,’ Smith added. ‘I have conservative views, I have liberal views. Trust me, I have plenty of liberal views. but that doesn’t mean I’m not gonna call it as I see it. I’ve been doing that for my entire career and dammit I’m not stopping.
‘Ladies and gentleman, I’m in the best health I’ve been in in 25 years. If you thought I wasn’t going away before, you have no idea how the hell I’m not going away now. I’m just getting started.
‘President Trump, I don’t like what I’m seeing in some cases. Democrats, pounce on him. If you don’t, I’ll find someone who will. Or I’ll do it my damn self.’
Smith’s claims come after John McLaughlin – who was Trump’s chief pollster – held a national survey of 1,000 general election voters.
John McLaughlin – Trump’s chief pollster – surveyed 1,000 people, several of whom had a positive response to the possibility of Smith running for president in 2028
Smith recently admitted to feeling like a ‘damn fool’ for supporting Kamala Harris and Tim Walz
Among the questions he asked was: ‘Thinking ahead to the 2028 Democratic primary election for President, if that election were held today among the following candidates, for whom would you vote?’
Two percent said they would choose ESPN star Smith. That is more than the likes of Beto O’Rourke – who ran for the nomination in 2020 – and JB Pritzker, the governor of Illinois (both one percent).
Remarkably, Smith polled only one percentage point behind Tim Walz – Harris’ vice-presidential pick – and Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro.
Harris was overwhelmingly the No 1 choice, with a third of voters (33 percent) saying they would vote for the former vice president – despite her defeat by Trump in November.
‘First Take’ host Smith, who made his name in sports media but has become increasingly vocal on political issues, shocked Bill Maher’s audience with his blunt verdict on why Donald Trump won a second term in the White House – and why he feels like a ‘damn fool’ for supporting Kamala Harris.
However, in response to Smith’s shock endorsements, Jason Whitlock launched a blistering 45-minute attack on the ESPN host.
Whitlock accused Smith of being a ‘plant’, citing the ‘Building 7’ 9/11 conspiracy theory and making the baseless claim that Disney, the NBA and ‘the powerful elite’ are conspiring to ‘install their puppet’ the Oval Office as part of a ‘well-orchestrated… dangerous’ plan.
Whitlock claimed the system has been ‘rigged’ and warned ‘naive’ voters that there is a real possibility Smith – who he called a ‘clown’ a ‘fraud’ and an ‘idiot’ – could reach the nation’s highest office.
