SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith told “State of the Union” guest host Kasie Hunt on Sunday he would not “denigrate or insult” President Donald Trump.
Trump previously lit into the ESPN host after Smith claimed Trump was asleep while attending Game Three of the NBA Finals in New York City, which the New York Knicks lost to the San Antonio Spurs. Hunt asked Smith about Trump’s comments about the need for a “high IQ” to be president.
“But I’m not here to denigrate or insult the president of the United States in that regard. He is certainly an upgrade from what we were seeing from Joe Biden in terms of his alertness and what have you. I certainly would say that,” Smith said, referencing reports regarding the decline of Trump’s predecessor. “I would not accuse him of that. But I’m not going to insult the president.”
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“What I would say, however, is that he showed up to a Knick[s] game, and he was caught on camera. This isn’t me saying it, you saw it on camera. He was caught napping, OK?” Smith continued. “And the owner of the New York Knicks, James Dolan, was sitting right next to him and he didn’t look awake either. And so that’s it. Just pointing it out. It is what it is, but he is the president. He’s got a lot on his plate.”
The Wall Street Journal published several reports about former President Biden’s declining mental acuity prior to his July 21, 2024, announcement that he would not seek reelection. On December 19, 2024, the Journal revealed that White House aides had “insulated” Biden, even from his Cabinet members, as his health and mental capacity continued to deteriorate.
Smith also didn’t shy away from the possibility of sitting down with Trump to talk issues.
“But I would certainly say that, if you really, really want to be serious about questioning somebody’s I.Q., put me at the same table as you and we could have a discussion in front of the masses about some decisions that you have made on behalf, supposedly, of the American people. And we will see where my I.Q. lands then,” Smith told Hunt.
Smith also decisively ruled out serving as a running mate, even after he said he would likely run as a Democrat.
“My question for you is, if somebody were to offer you a slot on the ticket as their vice president, which only requires potentially a half— months— ” Hunt asked before Smith cut her off with, “Never, never. Never. I’m not interested in being no vice president. I’m not interested in being number two.”
“I’m not interested in being the head of the Senate just to break a tie or to give speeches. No,” Smith added. “If I were to do something like that, it would be for the big job. It would be for the presidency of the United States of America or nothing. I’m not trying to be number two at anything I do.”
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