ESPN and SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith has waffled on whether or not he’d run for President in 2028. A comment from a CBS News reporter suggests Smith is inching closer to throwing his hat in the ring.
In an upcoming feature story on CBS Sunday Morning, Stephen A. Smith sat down with CBS News Chief Washington Analyst and National Correspondent Robert Costa to discuss his increasing power and notoriety in Washington, D.C.
Smith said he was “interrogated,” but “he did his best” in the interview with Costa, in a video published on social media to promote his appearance.
In a separate post, Costa suggested Smith was nearing toward entering the race for the White House in 2028.
“Stephen A. Smith is moving closer to a 2028 campaign,” Costa wrote. “Spending a few days with him in recent months reminded me of spending a few days with Trump back in 2013-2014. Many laughed at the prospect of a bid. But in an age of celebrity and social media…”
“I will confess to you, I’m giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027,” said Smith. “I’ve got this year coming up — 2026 — to think about it, to study, to know the issues.”
The statement from Costa comes after Stephen A. Smith has previously stated he wouldn’t seek any party’s nomination for the race, while also admitting that he wasn’t ruling out the option in April of last year.
“I’ve had no choice but to get more serious about it,” he shared while speaking on a panel at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. “I’ve been approached by people on Capitol Hill. And I’ve been approached by people who are elected officials in office, whether it’s governors or mayors or what have you. People have legitimately, seriously, asked me about it.
“I have no desire to be a politician, but I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to close that door. I’m gonna keep my options open. I’m going to entertain the possibility,” Smith continued. “If it comes in late 2026, 2027, where I look at this country and think it’s an absolute mess and there’s legitimate reason to believe … that I indeed have a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States. I am not going to rule it out.”
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