President Donald Trump took aim at ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith on Monday night, dismissing the sports commentator’s occasional flirtations with a presidential run and questioning whether he possesses the qualifications to occupy the Oval Office.
The exchange came after Smith fiercely criticized Trump earlier in the day over the president’s attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals in New York City.
Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Smith blasted Trump for attending the game, arguing that the president’s visit would create traffic headaches and disruptions for New Yorkers.
“This president has no business showing up in New York City. I am dead serious,” Smith said. “It is selfish. It is narcissistic. It is ridiculous that he is coming to this game.”
Smith even joked that if the New York Knicks lost the game, Trump would bear some responsibility. The Knicks ultimately fell to the San Antonio Spurs, giving Trump’s critics another talking point, even if flimsy.
Later that evening, Fox News asked Trump about Smith’s remarks while the president attended the game.
Trump responded with characteristic bluntness.
“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.”
Following 2024, Smith has repeatedly insisted that he has no real desire to run for office while simultaneously entertaining the possibility during interviews and television appearances. He has argued that voter dissatisfaction with both major parties has created an opening for unconventional candidates and has occasionally suggested he could be competitive in a national race.
Last year, Smith told ABC’s The View that he believed he could defeat both Republican and Democratic rivals despite acknowledging that he lacked traditional political experience.
“I am not a politician. I am not qualified,” Smith said at the time. “But I know this much: when you consider who is on the other side … I think I can beat them all.”
His comments generated headlines and prompted speculation among some political observers that the outspoken broadcaster might eventually test the waters for a presidential campaign.
In March, he appeared to close the door on a 2028 campaign while speaking with Sean Hannity, citing the massive pay cut that would come with leaving ESPN.
“Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed,” Smith said. “If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.”
Smith reportedly earns nearly $40 million annually through his ESPN contract and related ventures, far exceeding the presidential salary.
The sports commentator has frequently described himself as a political centrist despite consistently supporting Democratic candidates and positions on many major issues. He has also shared political commentary more frequently in recent years, often weighing in on presidential races, congressional politics and cultural debates beyond the sports world.
Trump’s remarks underscore the skepticism many voters have toward celebrity political candidates, even as modern American politics has increasingly blurred the lines between entertainment and government. Trump himself famously transitioned from business and television into politics, while figures ranging from Ronald Reagan to Arnold Schwarzenegger successfully leveraged celebrity status into political careers.
For now, however, Trump appears unconvinced that Smith is capable of the same.
While Smith spent part of Monday accusing the president of narcissism for attending an NBA Finals game, Trump ended the day questioning whether the ESPN star has what it takes to sit behind the Resolute Desk.
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