Despite Donald Trump not having completed his first 100 days in office, the prospect of Stephen A. Smith running for president in 2028 is becoming a genuine topic of discussion. Smith claims he has no desire to run for president but is willing to consider it if that’s what the American people want. So how does the Democratic Party view this? Is it merely a fanciful notion for sports fans, or could the idea of Smith as the Democratic nominee for president in 2028 actually be gaining momentum? As of February 13, 2023, it appears to lean toward the latter.
On Thursday, Kara Voght from The Washington Post inquired with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries about Smith’s potential candidacy, and the New York Democrat didn’t dismiss the idea outright. “2028 is way off in the distance,” Jeffries remarked. “House Democrats are engaged in an hour-by-hour, day-to-day, week-to-week struggle on behalf of the American people in the context of the first 100 days and beyond. There’s a lot to like about Stephen A. Smith, including the fact that we are both diehard Knicks fans.” While being a Knicks fan might not be the sole criterion for winning the nomination, having top Democrats express positive sentiments about Smith definitely sets a favorable tone.
It may sound absurd, but America might be willing to vote for a loud TV personality without any political background for the presidency. The concept of Smith as the Democratic nominee isn’t more far-fetched today than the notion of Trump securing the GOP nomination back in 2013. But would Smith actually consider the idea seriously? He has teased the prospect for years on First Take, most recently hinting at it again last November on The View, following Trump’s second election. However, each time he brings it up, he promptly backtracks, only to re-open the conversation with appearances on networks like Fox News, CNN, or MSNBC.
One significant hurdle for Smith is the substantial pay cut required to run for office. He is poised to earn upwards of $20 million per year in his next ESPN contract, while the presidential salary amounts to just about 1.25% of that.
However, Smith might not need to worry too much; any financial loss from a potential run, or even winning the presidency, could be recouped after his time in office. What are we to make of all this? If others are going to continue teasing the idea, why shouldn’t Smith? There have been far crazier presidential candidates in history. Although he may not become America’s next president, many would be satisfied just to see Stephen A. Smith step onto the debate stage.
