If you’ve watched Stephen A. Smith scream about the Dallas Cowboys for the last decade, you probably think you know exactly how he operates. He’s loud, he’s opinionated, and he’s usually looking for a fight. But lately, the "First Take" star has moved the goalposts. He isn't just talking about point spreads and trade deadlines anymore. He’s talking about the White House. Honestly, it’s been a wild transition to watch.
The conversation around stephen a smith political views has shifted from a "sports guy talking politics" to a serious discussion about whether a man who gets paid to debate Skip Bayless could actually run for president. People keep trying to box him in. Is he a Republican? A Democrat? A MAGA plant? The truth is a lot more complicated—and probably a lot more annoying for partisans on both sides.
The Independent Label and That 2028 Buzz
Stephen A. Smith is a registered Independent. He’ll tell you that himself, usually while staring directly into a camera lens with that "I can't believe I have to explain this" look on his face. He doesn’t like the "unconditional loyalty" he sees from Black voters toward the Democratic Party. To him, that’s just bad business. If a party knows they have your vote locked up, why would they work for it?
By early 2025, the rumors of a Smith presidency weren't just Twitter fodder. Real polls—like one from McLaughlin & Associates—actually started including his name for the 2028 Democratic nomination. He was sitting at 2%, which sounds tiny until you realize he was neck-and-neck with established governors.
He told Jimmy Fallon that "the American people" have been coming to him. It sounds like classic Stephen A. bravado, but there’s a real frustration underneath it. He’s essentially argued that both parties are "disgusting" in their current state.
Why He’s Ripping the Democratic Party
If you’ve caught him on The View or his own podcast, Straight Shooter, you’ve seen him go scorched earth on the DNC. He basically thinks the Democrats got their "butts whipped" in 2024 because they stopped talking about things that actually matter to people who pay bills.
- Woke Culture: He’s been incredibly vocal about "woke culture" and "cancel culture" being a distraction. He thinks the party prioritized niche social issues over the price of milk and gas.
- The 2024 Post-Mortem: Smith didn't hold back on Kamala Harris’s loss. He argued she was "set up to fail" by a party that didn't have a coherent economic message.
- The "Elite" Problem: He often mentions a sense of "elite condescension" from the left. He feels they talk down to voters rather than listening to them.
It's a weird spot to be in. He voted for Harris, but he spends most of his airtime explaining why her party is failing. That’s why his critics in Black intellectual circles are so heated. They see him as a "transactional" figure—someone who views politics like a sports contract negotiation rather than a struggle for justice.
The Fiscal Conservative Streak
One of the biggest surprises regarding stephen a smith political views is just how far right he leans on money. He’s a self-described "fiscal conservative." When New York City elected Zohran Mamdani—a democratic socialist—as mayor in late 2025, Stephen A. nearly lost it.
He went on a tear about Mamdani’s plan for free buses and grocery stores. "I count," Smith said. "One plus one, does it equal two?" He’s terrified that high taxes on the wealthy will drive all the business out of his hometown. He’s a guy who came from nothing in the Bronx and Queens, worked his way to a $20 million-a-year salary, and he’s not interested in seeing that capital flee the city.
He also wants more cops. Period. While the "defund" movement was at its peak, Smith was shouting from the rooftops that he wants more police in the subways, not fewer. He’s a "law and order" guy in a way that aligns him much more closely with traditional Republicans than the modern progressive wing of the Democrats.
The Trump Paradox
His relationship with Donald Trump is… confusing. On one hand, he’s called Trump "a friend" in the past, or at least someone he’s known for years in the New York circles. On the other hand, he’s stated clearly, "I’m no supporter of Trump."
But—and this is a big "but"—he defends the logic of Trump’s wins. After the 2024 election, he called Trump’s victory a "mandate." He told the co-hosts of The View that they couldn't just dismiss the results as a fluke. He pointed out that Trump increased his numbers with Black men, Latinos, and young voters. To Smith, that’s not a conspiracy; it’s a failure of the Democrats to provide a better alternative.
Sean Hannity and the Cross-Pollination of Media
You can’t talk about Stephen A.’s politics without mentioning his "unlikely" friendship with Sean Hannity. They’ve done multiple specials together. They go on each other's shows.
A lot of people think this is just a branding play. If Stephen A. wants to be the biggest name in media, he has to reach the Fox News audience. And he does. He’s been debating DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) on Hannity’s show, arguing that while he supports the goal of diversity, the implementation has often been a disaster that alienates people.
Is He Actually Running?
His agent, Mark Shapiro, tried to kill the rumors in 2025, saying he definitely won't run. But Stephen A. himself keeps the door open just a crack. He says if he had a "legitimate shot," he’d have to consider it.
He likes the power. He likes the platform. Most importantly, he likes being the guy who tells the "truth" when everyone else is reading from a script. He’s even praised Republicans like Byron Donalds while simultaneously saying he’d vote for Maryland Governor Wes Moore for president. That’s the definition of an Independent—or maybe just someone who likes whoever is winning the debate at that moment.
How to Navigate the Stephen A. Smith Era of Politics
If you’re trying to make sense of where he stands, don’t look for a party platform. Look for the "Straight Shooter" logic.
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- Watch the "Straight Shooter" Podcast: This is where he’s unedited. ESPN has rules; his own production company doesn't. If you want his raw thoughts on the 2026 midterms, that’s where they live.
- Separate the Vibe from the Policy: Smith is a master of "vibes." He wins debates because he's louder and more confident, not necessarily because he has a 400-page white paper on tax reform.
- Check the "Fiscal" vs. "Social" Divide: He’s socially liberal on things like George Floyd and civil rights, but he’s a hawk on crime and taxes.
- Follow the Guest List: Look at who he interviews. When he brings on James Clyburn and then follows it up with Tom Cotton, he’s signaling that he wants to be the bridge (or the referee) between two Americas.
The biggest takeaway? Stephen A. Smith is treating the U.S. government like the NBA. He’s looking at the stats, calling out the "scrubs," and wondering if he should just get on the court himself. Whether he ever ends up on a ballot or not, he’s already changed the way we talk about the intersection of sports, celebrity, and the voting booth. He isn't going away. He's just getting started.