If Stephen A. Smith gets begged and paid enough over the next few years, he just might give the American people what they want. A presidential run in 2028.
For years, Smith has joked about potentially running for president. But every time he’s pressed on it, the ESPN personality says he has no interest. He has no interest in being a politician and he has no interest in taking the pay cut required to become a politician. Still, Smith keeps getting asked. Keep asking and just maybe, you shall receive.
Stephen A. Smith addressed his continuously rumored interest in running for president on the latest episode of his podcast. This on the heels of Donald Trump’s former pollster, John McLaughlin, giving him two percent of the vote in a hypothetical 2028 Democratic presidential primary.
“I’ve worked very hard, I’ve established myself as a pretty significant figure in the world of sports and I’m glad about that,” Smith said. “But never in my wildest dreams did I believe that would translate into me being polled as a presidential candidate for the United States of America… this is a shock.
Smith rattled off all the frequent cable news appearances he makes with Sean Hannity on Fox News, Chris Cuomo on NewsNation, and others on CNN or MSNBC. But Smith explained that he doesn’t think of himself as a political pundit on those shows, he considers it social commentary.
“I simply looked at myself as doing my civic duty and speaking on these issues,” Smith claimed. “And then low and behold, some poll comes out, and the poll has me receiving two percent for the presidency of the United States of America.”
Two percent might not seem like a lot, but when you consider former Vice President Kamala Harris was the only potential candidate with a double-digit number, two percent isn’t that bad.
Smith humbly said he’s not worthy, noting he doesn’t have enough knowledge on the issues needed to run for president that lifelong politicians are expected to have. But then he watches those lifelong politicians go to work and all of a sudden his confidence gets a jolt. The biggest thing standing in Smith’s way doesn’t appear to be a lack of political aptitude. It’s the pay cut.
“But then I remembered something. I expect to make some paper over the next few years,” Smith admitted as his massive ESPN contract looms. “I expect to accumulate enough dollars to, dare I say, elevate and sustain my quality of life for a lengthy period of time to come. And taking all of those things into consideration, although I have absolutely positively no desire to be a politician…I do have an insatiable desire one day…to be on a stage debating presidential candidates for the United States of America.
“And in order to do that, I would have to be a candidate…I must confess to you, that if my money is right, my pockets are tight, my quality of life is sustained, and you came to me and you said to me as the American people, that you wanted me to be your nominee for the presidency of the United States of America, I have to confess to you, it is something I would consider.”
Smith reiterated he has no desire to do it. But his desire doesn’t seem to be the end all be all. Pay him enough, beg him enough, and Stephen A. Smith will consider running for president. Crazier things have happened, and brasher TV hosts have been elected. Smith is on the clock. He has three years to fill his pockets and be lured into running.
One thing is for certain. If Smith is lured into running for president, he might not win the White House, but he definitely won’t lose a debate.
