Longtime ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith has long teased a potential presidential run and has made it no secret that he wants to challenge United States President Donald Trump on the debate stage. Now, however, he is coming for the Democrats.
During a recent interview, Smith claimed that he would beat “most” Democrats on a debate stage, specifically calling out former Vice President Kamala Harris and California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
‘I’d beat most of the Democratic Party’
While Stephen A. Smith has often targeted Trump with his political tirades, he recently singled out a few high-profile Democrats as he expressed a desire to get on the debate floor with them.
“Let them find a way for me to be on that debate stage and still be able to come back to work. I’ll be there. I’ll be there,” Smith said during a recent interview. “I’ll tell you right now, I will show up on that stage, not knowing anything compared to what Gavin Newsom might know. I don’t care. I’ll be ready. I’ll be ready for that debate.”
“I respect Gav,” he added. “He wouldn’t beat me. I don’t believe for one second.”
Smith singled out both Newsom and Harris, indicating that he thinks he would beat them both, along with “most” Democrats.
“Do I believe I would take Gavin Newsom out? Yes, I do. Yes, I do. Do I believe I would go against Kamala and beat her? Yes, I do,” Smith said. “I think I’d beat most of the Democratic Party. Because there’s too much dancing — and I don’t dance.”
Smith Still Wants Trump
While Smith shifted his target to the Democrats, it’s still clear that Trump is his top target.
During a recent appearance at Barrett Media’s Audio Summit earlier this month, Smith reiterated his desire to debate Trump after being asked about the president’s recent questioning of his IQ.
“Since you so big and bad, why don’t you debate me?” Smith said of Trump during a session hosted by Jason Barrett. “You know what time it is. Remember, I knew this man before he was the president…Donald Trump knows enough about me. He knows how I would come at him. He can talk that junk all he wants to, but name the time and place and I’ll show up.”
“I don’t care about winning a presidency or anything. But to be on that stage with these politicians that have divided our country the way that they have, I would love the opportunity to be on a debate stage where they try to justify it with me standing next to them,” Smith said. “I really think 100 million people will watch that knowing I’m coming.”
It’s unlikely that Smith will ever get that chance, but it’s clear that he wants the challenge.
About Dave Kelsey
Contributing author to The Comeback.