Stephen A. Smith says he is not running for president in 2028 — and he says the reason is simple: the pay cut.
The outspoken ESPN commentator, who has increasingly waded into political commentary in recent years, shut down speculation about a possible presidential run during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity for the debut episode of the podcast Hang Out with Sean Hannity, released Tuesday.
“I think it’s all bulls—,” Hannity told Smith in a preview of the interview. “I don’t think you’re running. Am I right?”
“I don’t think I’m running either, because I got to give up my money,” Smith responded. “Yeah, I ain’t giving up my money, Sean.”
Smith added: “I can tell you right now, let me put the presidential aspirations to bed. If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.”
Smith’s comments come after months of speculation fueled in part by his own remarks. The sports commentator has repeatedly flirted with the idea of entering politics, telling The Hill in November that he was “not ruling anything out,” even while emphasizing that he enjoyed his current career.
“I love what I do, and I’m not willing to give up my money,” he said at the time.
Financially, the comparison is stark. According to The New York Times, Smith earns roughly $33 million annually through his ESPN and SiriusXM contracts, with total income approaching $40 million when revenue from his YouTube channel and podcast are included. By contrast, the salary for the president of the United States is $400,000 per year.
Smith has expanded his political profile recently, launching a SiriusXM political talk show, Straight Shooter with Stephen A., and frequently discussing policy and elections on television and social media. His willingness to weigh in on political debates has helped spark recurring speculation that he could one day seek public office.
Even as he dismissed the possibility of a 2028 run, Smith said he has strong opinions about who should be president.
Among the figures he praised was Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a Republican and former senator from Florida who ran for president in 2016. Smith called Rubio a serious and capable leader.
“He’s an adult in the room. There is no questioning his qualifications for the job,” Smith said, adding that despite identifying as a Democrat he would prefer Rubio over several prominent figures within his own party, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Smith also named two Democratic governors he believes would make strong presidential contenders: Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.
Both men are widely seen as rising stars within the Democratic Party and potential candidates in the next open presidential race. Moore, a former Army officer and bestselling author who became Maryland’s first Black governor in 2023, has gained national attention for his leadership style and messaging focused on economic opportunity and public service.
Shapiro, who won the Pennsylvania governorship in 2022 after serving as the state’s attorney general, has also emerged as a prominent Democratic figure. Known for his pragmatic approach and strong electoral performance in a key swing state, Shapiro is frequently mentioned as a possible future presidential contender.
The 2028 presidential field remains wide open. Because President Donald Trump is serving a second term, the Constitution bars him from running again, ensuring both parties will nominate new candidates. Alongside Moore and Shapiro, potential Democratic contenders often discussed include Newsom, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
On the Republican side, possible candidates could include Rubio, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, and other prominent figures from the party’s national bench.
For now, however, Smith says he is content staying in sports media and political commentary rather than entering the political arena himself.
“If I have to give up my money,” he said, “it’s not happening.”
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