Entertainment
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Gives Update On Potential White House Bid
Longtime ESPN host Stephen A. Smith discussed the possibility of running for president as a Democrat in 2028 — a prospect he has long considered — during a recent appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
While Smith has long been a supporter of left-wing causes and organizations, the “First Take” host has criticized his party on a number of issues in recent years, including the politically motivated prosecutions of President Trump and the embrace of radical gender ideology.
He continued with his critiques while speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, stating that the “extreme left” has ruined the Democratic Party’s brand.
“We know what we lean towards when it came to open borders. We know that the spending was excessive, even though it’s excessive on the Republican side as well. I think a 37 trillion dollar budget, when Republicans try to act like it’s just the Democrats, that’s not true,” Smith said.
“But the Democrats certainly shouldn’t be absolved from blame in that regard. Certainly with identity politics, woke culture, cancel culture, I thought that that was something that ravaged our nation psychologically,” he continued. “Because you had people literally scared they were going to lose their jobs if they pronounced the wrong pronoun for crying out loud. It got that bad. And I think that that’s one of the reasons that Donald Trump is in office today.”
The ESPN host went on to describe the Democratic Party’s messaging over the last decade or so as “uncomfortable to listen to” and out of touch with everyday issues Americans care about, such as costs of living.
“They’re trying to pay their mortgages, rent, buy food and groceries, pay gas and deal with the prices, you know, the cost of living. And they want safety in the streets. That’s primarily what most American citizens are about, trying to live in peace and harmony,” Smith continued, adding that “both sides” have failed to deliver on those issues in his view.
Tapper then asked Smith about his own political aspirations, pointing to a statement last month in which the ESPN host said there were other people who are “more qualified” for the job, though he is still considering a run for office.
“You’re a gifted TV sports commentator without question. But are you really prepared to be president of the United States? How would you answer that?” Tapper asked.
“Would say they’re absolutely right. I’m not prepared, I’m not qualified, I have no political history whatsoever. I’ve never been interested in politics a day in my life. How did I come to this conclusion where I’ve left the door open? I’ll tell you how. Elected officials have come up to me, folks in the streets of America come up to me every single day,” Smith responded.
“Not only that, my own pastor, A.R. Bernard from Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York said to me, ‘show respect to people who love and support you by leaving the door open because you never know what God has planned for you or for us as a nation. Just leave the door open.’ So that’s what I did.”
The veteran sports commentator went on to say that he takes pride in having a sizable platform that allows him to unapologetically voice his opinions and reach millions of people.
“Do you realize right now, and I’m saying this facetiously because I know that you do every single day. Do you realize that if you are an elected official, your real work is with the campaign? Once you get into office, literally you can get away, I’m talking about the nation’s capital specifically, not state and local politics, just the nation’s capital. You realize that you can literally go on Capitol Hill and all your job is to do is to disagree with the other side,” Smith said of the nation’s political climate.
“You don’t even have to do anything else. Whatever the other side feels, you feel the opposite. That’s not work. That’s not going across the aisle. That’s not maneuvering your way through the political terrain and really negotiating on behalf of your constituency and the American people.”
