Is the sun already setting on Stephen A. Smith’s 2028 presidential hopes? The ESPN personality made a guest spot on his friend Sean Hannity’s Fox News podcast, where he admitted a White House run may not be in the cards.
‘I think it’s all bulls***,’ the conservative pundit told Smith of his rumored 2028 White House run. ‘I don’t think you’re running, am I right?’
Smith, who recently signed an ESPN deal rumored to be worth around $20 million annually, pointed to the potential loss of income to explain his dwindling interest in the presidency.
‘I don’t think I’m running either because I gotta give up my money,’ Smith said. ‘I ain’t giving up my money, Sean.
‘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.’
Pressed on who he would vote for in 2028, Smith pointed to Democrats like governors Wes Moore of Maryland and Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania, as well as Republican Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, whom he referred to as ‘an adult in the room.’
Smith has criticized President Donald Trump’s decision to join Israel’s attack on Iran – a conflict that has resulted in the deaths of at least seven American servicemembers and more than 1,300 others in Iran and neighboring states. Iranian Deputy Health Minister Ali Jafarian said the Israeli-US air strikes have killed 200 children and 211 healthcare workers.
Stephen A. Smith poured some cold water on his own presidential hopes ahead of 2028
Smith is friendly with Sean Hannity (left) but has criticized the host’s favorite leader, Trump
During Barack Obama’s presidency, Trump repeatedly claimed the Democrat would attack Iran to distract from domestic problems – something Smith recently accused the Republican of doing this month.
‘And here [Trump] is doing it,’ Smith said on his podcast. ‘You’re damn right it’s hypocritical. You’re damn right he’s full of it.’
Smith also questioned the supposed danger presented by Iran after the Trump administration previously claimed to have decimated the country’s nuclear program.
‘If you obliterated them, what was the need for the attack now? I mean, that’s a legitimate question to ask. It just is,’ Smith said.
Although Smith now seems reluctant to run for the White House, he had a different mindset while speaking with CBS Sunday Morning in February.
‘I will confess to you, I’m giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027,’ Smith told Robert Costa.
Smith indicated that he would be running for the Democratic Party nomination: ‘I’ve got this year coming up 2026, to think about it, to study, to know the issues.’
