After months of teasing, the possibility of a Stephen A. Smith presidential run is drawing increased attention. Smith has been openly critical of the country’s leadership and has often voiced that while he has no desire for politics, he would love to debate against the individuals who think they’re better suited to run America.
CBS reported on Friday that Smith has not ruled out the possibility of running for president. Following this news, Smith’s odds for announcing a presidential run before 2027 jumped up to 10% on Polymarket.
The change was noted by fellow media voices Kendrick Perkins and Jason Whitlock, both of whom voiced their feelings on a potential Stephen A. Smith presidential run.
“Why not?? I believe he should test those waters and let’s see if he can swim,” Perkins said.
“I’ve had Stephen at 100% running for 2+ years. Good to see everyone catching up,” Whitlock wrote.
When asked by TMZ about a potential presidential run, Smith said:
“I think the country is devoid of leadership; the kind of leadership we have, we don’t need. The kind of leadership we should be getting, nobody is stepping up and doing. I don’t desire to be a politician, but in the same breath, the opportunity to go on a debate stage and call out these politicians for the things that they’ve done to damage this country is something that very much appeals to me.”
Stephen A. Smith does not consider himself to be the face of ESPN
Despite being one of the platform’s most recognizable voices and his five-year, $100 million contract, Stephen A. Smith still doesn’t believe that he is the face of ESPN. He expressed the sentiment on Sunday during an interview with CBS.
“I don’t know if they’ve made me the face of ESPN. I don’t even try to consider myself that half the time,” Smith told CBS. “I work. I put in the work, and the people decide who the face is. I would tell you they recognize that, and they’ve rewarded me accordingly. But I believe, and I take credit for this, I’ve proven I’m trustworthy.”
Smith also said that he remains open to launching a presidential campaign in 2028, though he indicated that a decision would not be made before 2027.
Read More: Is Stephen A. Smith Running For President? All We Know About ESPN Host’s Political Plans
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