Trump: I’d love to see Stephen A. Smith run

Aaron M. Sprecher, Getty Images
Stephen A. Smith takes part in an event Feb. 7, 2025, in New Orleans leading up to the Super Bowl.

President Trump said he’d “love” to see Stephen A. Smith run for president as the sports commentator has stirred speculation that he may mount a 2028 bid.

Trump called in to a NewsNation town hall on Wednesday marking his first 100 days back in office for his second term, speaking to moderator Chris Cuomo along with commentators Bill O’Reilly and Smith. He answered questions on several issues, such as his tariff policy and economic anxiety that voters have expressed in polls.

Noting the speculation that Smith may run for president in 2028, O’Reilly asked Trump if he had any advice for him. Trump responded that he didn’t have any advice but said Smith was a “good guy” and “smart guy.”

“I love watching him. He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him,” he said.

“I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you, I’d love to see him run,” Trump said to applause from the audience members at the town hall.

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Smith has hinted that he may consider a run for president. He has repeatedly said that he wouldn’t want to run, but if he believed there was a path he could win, he would have to consider it.

He’s also criticized the state of the Democratic Party following its loss in the November election, wanting new leaders to rise to lead the party. He’s mentioned Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Maryland Gov. Wes Moore as two rumored Democratic candidates he may support.

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“I hope somebody from the Democratic Party steps up. I hope I light a fire under them and get a more qualified individual in this mix, so people can stop asking me this stuff and I can enjoy my life,” Smith told Fox News’s Sean Hannity earlier this month.