Politics

Stephen A. Smith on a Presidential Run: ‘I Think I Can Beat Them All’

Stephen A. Smith teases a 2028 presidential run, claiming he could "beat them all" despite having "no desire" to enter politics.
By 
March 5, 2025
1 mins read
Stephen A Smith

Stephen A. Smith, the bombastic voice of ESPN’s First Take, is no stranger to bold statements. But this time, his latest hot take has nothing to do with sports. Instead, the 57-year-old media personality is entertaining the idea—at least rhetorically—of running for President of the United States.

During a recent appearance on ABC’s The View, Smith discussed his potential chances in the 2028 election:

“I mean when I say it. I think I can beat them all. And I have no desire whatsoever to run for office. I am not a politician. I am not qualified.”

That was his response after Alyssa Farah revealed that Smith is polling nearly tied with major Democratic figures like Pete Buttigieg, AOC, and Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, while also having a higher favorability rating than both John Fetterman and Vice President Kamala Harris.

While Smith insists he has no political aspirations, his increasing presence in political discourse tells another story. In recent months, he has appeared on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher, contributed to CNN discussions, and expanded his independent platform, The Stephen A. Smith Show, beyond sports and into national issues.

Smith also shared his analysis of why Trump remains dominant in Republican politics and why Democrats are struggling.

“Not only has [Trump] won, the Republican constituency has said, ‘We don’t want anybody else but him,’” Smith shared. “We didn’t want DeSantis. We didn’t want Haley. We didn’t want Christie. We didn’t want Ramaswamy. We didn’t want anybody. We want him.”

This isn’t the first time Smith has floated the idea of entering politics. In previous interviews, he has expressed deep frustrations with both parties and a desire for a leader who understands working-class Americans.

While he may not be announcing a campaign anytime soon, his comments reflect a larger sentiment—voters are dissatisfied with their options. And if Smith’s confidence is any indication, he believes that he could shake things up.