Stephen A. Smith’s full history with Donald Trump, as beef goes to next level

Stephen A. Smith has found himself at odds with United States President Donald Trump following Trump’s appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Smith opposed Trump’s appearance, believing that his presence would inconvenience Knicks fans and ruin the atmosphere. Trump ultimately responded by questioning Stephen A. Smith’s intelligence and aptitude for potentially becoming President of the United States.

Smith and Trump have a storied history with each other that blends sports, business, politics, and personal animosity. But many wonder how we’ve arrived here with a media personality having a public feud with the President of the United States?

Per Smith’s comments, in several venues, it all began with Trump’s interest in buying the Buffalo Bills.

2014: Trump makes presidential promise following failed Buffalo Bills acquisition

Smith has often told the story of one of his earlier encounters with Donald Trump. Smith says that Trump called to tell him he was interested in buying the Buffalo Bills when the team was on sale. The First Take host has often referenced the moments when discussing his relationship with Donald Trump, but went into more depth on the encounter in his 2023 memoir Straight Shooter.

“I would receive a call from Trump years later, in 2014, when he wanted to talk about his wish to buy the Buffalo Bills football team,” Smith wrote in his memoir. “I told him that most of the NFL owners would likely stand in his way. They weren’t about to let him into that good ol’ boys club. His reply, verbatim: ‘If these m*therf*ckers get in my way, I’ll tell you how I’ll get back at them: I’m going to run for president!’ That’s what he said, and, sure enough, that’s what he did. As much as I despised how he behaved during his presidency, I’ll give him credit for that.”

Smith then expressed his disapproval of Trump’s politics, criticizing his leadership during the presidential campaign and his first term as president.

2024: Smith defends Donald Trump, draws the ire of the NAACP

Ten years after their eventual phone call, Smith moved into political media. He became a frequent guest on news programs discussing politics and often broached the topic of Donald Trump being a candidate in the presidential election. One such instance occurred in April 2024, where he insinuated that Black voters would support Donald Trump and find him believable because of “what he’s going through” during an appearance on Hannity.

“But, I gotta tell you something. As much as people may have been abhorred by Donald Trump’s statement weeks ago talking about how black folks…he’s hearing that black folks find him relatable because of what he’s going through is similar to [what] Black Americans have gone through. He wasn’t lying. He was telling the truth. “When you see the law, law enforcement, the court system, and everything like that being exercised against him, it is something that black folks throughout this nation can relate to with some of our historic, iconic figures.

He added, “We’ve seen that happen throughout society. So no matter what race, what ethnicity you may emanate from, we relate to you when you’re suffering like that ’cause we know we have, and that’s what he articulated.”

Smith received backlash for his comments, including from the NAACP, which posted on its social media accounts to condemn them.

“Relatable!?! Show of hands: Anyone in your Black family have 88 felony charges pending, filed for bankruptcy 6x, made an attempt to overthrow a presidential election and our democracy, and still have the ability to fall asleep in court and dream of being POTUS?,” the NAACP account posted with the hashtag “#BLASPHEMOUS”.

Smith then issued an apology on his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” saying that his words were taken out of context.

“To be clear, my words were misconstrued. I’m standing right here for the record that my words were taken out of context, misrepresenting and depicting me in a way I found every bit as insulting and disrespectful as folks in black America evidently felt about what they thought I said. But I’ll own it anyway.”

He added, “I hope everyone can understand and appreciate my intent. If nothing else, as we march forward right here with the Stephen A. Smith Show, but just because my intent was harmless doesn’t mean my words were harmless. And I know that I can always do better. And I’ll strive to do just that every single day that I’m alive.”

2025: Stephen A. Smith speaks with Donald Trump in NewsNation Town Hall

Following Donald Trump’s win in the 2024 presidential election and his assumption of office in January 2025, Stephen A. Smith was a part of a NewsNation Town Hall alongside NewsNation host Chris Cuomo and Bill O’Reilly in April 2025 where he spoke with Donald Trump publicly. The town hall concerned Trump’s first 100 days in office; Smith used the moment to ask Trump about HBCUs.

“As a graduate of Winston-Salem University, an HBCU, I am aware of your contributions to in the past. There is a concern, however, with all the things going on in this day and time, that there will be a cut in federal contributions to HBCUs. Should they be very concerned about you making cuts?”

Trump responded to Smith by claiming he had saved HBCUs, a claim Smith wasn’t entirely happy with, as he explained during an appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in June 2025.

“He was rambling. I still don’t know what he said. I mean he said a lot. He said a lot, and I brought up HBCUs…asking him about his contribution or the contribution he was intending to make to them. And he says, ‘I love the black people, the blacks. I love them.’”

2025: Trump encourages Stephen A. Smith to run for president

During the April NewsNation Town Hall, Bill O’Reilly asked Trump to give Smith advice if he ran for president. Trump proclaimed that he wanted Smith to run for president and complimented his intelligence.

“No, he is a good guy, smart guy. I love watching him. He has great entertainment skills. People watch him. A lot of the Democrats I watch, a city has no chance—I’ve been pretty good at picking candidates, and I tell you, I would love to see him run.”

2026: New York Knicks Finals escalates Trump-Smith feud

Despite Trump’s flattery of Stephen A. Smith’s political aspirations, the two found themselves engaged in a heated back-and-forth over Donald Trump’s appearance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals in Madison Square Garden. Smith believed that Trump’s appearance at the event would inconvenience Knicks fans and said he would blame Trump if the Knicks lost.

“This president has no business showing up in New York City. I am dead serious. It is selfish. It is narcissistic. It is ridiculous that he is coming to this game,” Smith said. “This is not a football stadium in some space in Texas where you got a whole bunch of outlays. This is [Madison Square] Garden. This is midtown Manhattan. Do you have any idea what the congestion is going to be like in New York City,” Smith said on the June 8th edition of ESPN’s First Take.

Trump did attend the game as a guest of James Dolan, owner of the New York Knicks. His appearance led to strict security protocols. The Knicks also lost game three, 115-111.

Trump was asked by a reporter before boarding Air Force One about Smith’s comments about blaming him for the loss due to his appearance.

“He’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ, I’m not sure he has that. I don’t think he does.”
Smith took exception to the slight, responding in a monologue on First Take doubling down on his opinion.

“Guess what he was doing during the game ladies and gentlemen? Go online, look at the videos. I’m not gonna accuse of him of snoring because I wasn’t an earshot, but the brother wasn’t awake.”

He added, “If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn’t you call out former President Joe Biden, ‘Sleepy Joe’? Well, what should we call you?”

Trump then lashed out at Smith on Truth Social, once again calling him low IQ and assailing his presidential aspirations.

“Stephen A. Smith is an arrogant fool, a low IQ individual.In other words, he’s ‘dumb as a rock,’ and totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office, or even low political office, for that matter!”

Trump added, “Joe Biden’s now ‘fabled’ performance would look great by comparison to anything that this loudmouth huckster has to offer, which isn’t much! Within a few weeks, they’d laugh him out of politics!!!”

Smith responded on a June 10th edition of his Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith radio show, where he insinuated that Trump’s comments were hypocritical due to his decision in politics to become president and challenged him to a debate.

“You really really think being on a stage against me would be comparable to you being on a stage with Joe Biden? … You sure about that,” Smith asked. “Name the time and place and I’ll show up. Because you see, Mr. President, I don’t have a record when it comes to issues you do.”

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