In a recent interview that was published on Tuesday, the podcast host and sports commentator once again discussed his political ambitions, expressing frustration over the inability of the current “binary system” to find common ground.
Smith emphasized the importance of prioritizing the country’s interests over personal gain, stating, “Let’s call balls and strikes, and let’s get back to doing what’s in the best interest of the country instead of in the best interest of ourselves. That’s why I believe people have been trying to coax me into joining the fray of politics.”
Stephen A. Smith also shared his thoughts on branching out into acting and politics, referring to himself as a “renaissance man” involved in soap operas, prime time shows, and movies. He hinted at the potential for a future in presidential aspirations.
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) June 10, 2025
When asked if it was “safe to say” he would “not run as a member of either” of the political parties, the podcast host said he would be a centrist.
“It’s not safe to say that. I can’t imagine that I would. But if you were to run and they tell you that you need party affiliation in order to generate the kind of dollars to have a formidable campaign, then obviously I would have to think about those things,” Smith said. “I’m a centrist at heart. I’m a moderate, and my objective would be trying to pull both sides closer to the center.”
“Let’s stop with the MAGA, the right stuff. Let’s stop with the progressive left. Let’s start with everybody from the extremists on the right to the AOCs and Jasmine Crocketts on the left — not to throw shade on them or Bernie Sanders,” he added. “We need to get back to making sure that the interest of the majority is what is served instead of surrendering to the fringes.”
“That would be my objective,” Smith continued. “I never intend to be quiet. I don’t mind having a big voice and ruffling feathers because, contrary to what most elected officials are accustomed to dealing with, the negativity and controversy and all of that stuff doesn’t faze me one bit. I live with it every day of my career. It’s a walk in the park for me, so I don’t worry about it one bit.”
Smith hasn’t been the only person on the Democrat side of the aisle saying AOC and Sanders shouldn’t be the face of the party.
Longtime Democrat strategist James Carville recently said that, “There’s truly depth and talent in the Democratic Party, and the faster that we can get them on the field and people seeing them, and the sooner we can get people like Bernie Sanders and AOC not defining who the party is, the better off we’re going to be.”
Smith has been all over the place on whether or not he’s interested in running for president, RedState reported.
During a previous “The Stephen A. Smith Show” podcast, Smith said he has “no intention” of running for president:
On Fox News’ “Hannity,” he said he hopes someone from the Democrat Party “steps up,” since he’s getting tired of people “asking me this stuff and I can enjoy my life.”
The comments appeared to somewhat contradict what he said during his appearance on ABC News’ “This Week” when he told host Jonathan Karl he has “no choice” but to consider running for president, pointing out the Democratic Party’s lack of leadership and vision following President Donald Trump’s victory.
