Stephen A. Smith says Democrats need to address the ‘bigger picture’ over Trump – Washington Examiner
In a recent commentary, sports journalist Stephen A. Smith expressed concerns about the Democratic Party’s lack of effectiveness in opposing President Donald Trump, suggesting that the party is currently “rudderless” and struggling with its vision. He noted that voters seem to view Trump as more relatable compared to Democrats, and speculated that unless the economy significantly worsens, this perception is unlikely to change.Smith highlighted that Democratic leaders,such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer,need to work with Trump,emphasizing the importance of addressing larger issues within the party rather than solely critiquing the president’s actions.
Smith also discussed his potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential election, mentioning that he has received encouragement from various figures, including his pastor. However, he clarified that he is satisfied with his current role at ESPN and mentioned that there may be more qualified Democratic politicians than himself.Despite his initial reluctance, he is open to considering a run under the independent banner, reflecting his dissatisfaction with both major political parties.
Stephen A. Smith says Democrats need to address the ‘bigger picture’ over Trump
Sports journalist Stephen A. Smith argued the Democratic Party currently has “no muscle whatsoever” in opposing President Donald Trump and his administration, adding that this is partially contributing to speculation he could launch a presidential run.
Smith assessed that voters already decided Trump was “closer to normal” compared to those within the Democratic Party last year, and that it is highly unlikely this view will change unless the economy takes a “disastrous” turn under Trump’s watch, referring to the president’s tariffs. In comparison, Democrats’ lack of vision for the nation has made the party “rudderless” and “mocked religiously.”
Amid this dilemma facing the Democratic Party, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) visited Trump in the Oval Office, which Smith argued she, and all other U.S. politicians, need to do business with the president regardless of who is currently in the White House. While Smith agreed that Whitmer “probably” could have criticized the president’s leadership during her visit, he added that Democrats need to fix the “bigger picture” within the Democratic Party rather than critiquing the president.
“They talk and they talk and they talk, but what can they do? They position themselves to do absolutely nothing,” Smith said on ABC News’s This Week. “I didn’t hear anything about tariffs from the Democrats before the election. Trump had been preaching about this for the longest time. The way people decry his strategy, he’s been bloviating about that. They said nothing about it, and instead they talked about everything from woke culture to cancel culture to abortion rights and all of this other stuff, but that wasn’t going to win the election, and that’s what we have to look at. What is it going to take to get the job done? That’s why somebody who’s a sports analyst, for crying out loud, is in the dag-gone polls!”
Smith was then asked about rumblings that he could run for president in 2028, as he stated earlier this month he is leaving the door open to the possibility. He further explained on Sunday that some elected officials and billionaires have approached him to potentially pursue “exploratory committees” on this matter, but stressed that he is not a politician and is “very, very happy” with his current job at ESPN.
“But here’s the reality: People literally, people have walked up to me, including my own pastor, for crying out loud, who has said to me, ‘You don’t know what God has planned for you, at least show the respect to the people who believe in you, who respect you, who believe that you can make a difference in this country, to leave the door open for any possibility somewhere three years down the line,” Smith said. “And that’s what I’ve decided to do.”
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Smith proceeded to state there are politicians within the Democratic Party who are “more qualified” to run for president over himself, mentioning Govs. Wes Moore (D-MD) and Josh Shapiro (D-PA) and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is currently running for mayor in New York City’s 2025 election.
Speculation over Smith’s potential 2028 run began shortly after Trump won the 2024 election, as Smith was asked about the possibility during a guest appearance on ABC News’s The View two days after the election. His original answer was “hell no,” but later adjusted to say he would “definitely consider it” if he had a legitimate chance to win. He added that if he does run, he would run as an independent due to disliking both the Republican Party and Democratic Party, reiterating this belief in his Sunday interview by saying he does not mind “the thought of tussling” with people from both parties.
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