Stephen A. Smith has spent decades behind a mic. Now, he’s leaving the door open to standing behind a presidential podium.
The outspoken ESPN commentator said Sunday that he is “considering” a potential run for president in 2028—a revelation that came not from a campaign event or political rally, but during a segment on ABC’s This Week. And while Smith has never held elected office, his remarks suggest the idea isn’t coming out of thin air.
During a conversation about his name being mentioned by Steve Bannon and Bill Maher as a Democrat to watch, Smith said, “I have no choice because I’ve had elected officials, and I’m not going to give their names [of] elected officials coming up to me.”
“I’ve had folks who are pundits come up to me, I’ve had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others, that have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature. I’m not a politician, I’ve never had a desire to be a politician.”
The host of First Take emphasized that he recently signed a contract extension with ESPN and is satisfied with his career. “I just signed a contract extension with ESPN, I am very, very happy with my day job. I’m very happy with my boss, this is a damn good one just right is a pretty damn good contract. I couldn’t be happier,” Smith said.
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But it hasn’t stopped people around him from pushing the idea—including some in surprising places.
“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 possibilities two to three years down the line,” he added. “And that’s what I’ve decided to do.”
While Smith made it clear he recognizes other Democrats as more qualified—citing names like Wes Moore, Josh Shapiro, and Andrew Cuomo—he also took aim at Republicans, suggesting the current state of the GOP could push him into the race.
“I see a lot of people that obviously and clearly are more qualified than me,” Smith said. “But in the same breath when you think about what Trump is getting away with, when you think about what you brought up about Steve Bannon… you better be careful what you ask for.”
Still, Smith made it clear he isn’t rushing into anything. But if the time comes, he won’t shy away.
“I would hope somebody else would step up that’s more qualified than me, but if it has to come down to me, it is something I would consider. Yes, I would, because I don’t mind the thought of tussling with these folks at all, on the left or the right.”
Whether or not Smith takes the plunge, his comments add a dose of unpredictability to the early shadows of the 2028 race—and could prompt other unconventional figures to test the waters, too.