Donald Trump fired back at Stephen A. Smith after the New York Knicks’ Game 3 loss turned one of the loudest NBA Finals subplots into an easy target.
Smith had spent the build-up warning that Trump’s Madison Square Garden visit could become a distraction.
The security, the boos, the canceled watch-party plans, and the political noise all made the president’s attendance feel bigger than a normal celebrity cameo.
Then the Knicks lost. That gave Trump room to answer Smith on more than basketball, especially after the ESPN star’s past comments about possibly entering politics.
Donald Trump takes low IQ shot at Stephen A. Smith after New York Knicks loss
Acyn on X shared Donald Trump’s response when he was asked about Stephen A. Smith and the idea of the ESPN personality running for president.
“I think he is a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I’m not sure Stephen has that. I don’t think he has it,” Trump said.
The comment was a direct shot at Smith’s political ambitions, even though Trump opened it by calling him a nice guy.
The sting came in the next breath, when he questioned whether Smith had the intelligence needed for the job. It also landed after a rough Knicks night for Smith, who had already put Trump at the center of his pregame frustration.
Stephen A. Smith said he would blame Donald Trump if New York Knicks lost Game 3
Smith had made his position clear before tipoff. He said he would look at Trump and blame the president if the Knicks lost Game 3, arguing that the visit risked ruining the vibe around Madison Square Garden.
The Knicks did lose, falling 115-111 to the San Antonio Spurs as the Finals series moved to 2-1. That result gave Smith’s warning a strange afterlife, because the exact scenario he mentioned actually happened.
Smith has also teased the idea of influencing politics and, at points, discussed a possible future presidential run.
He later signaled that his media career and money made a 2028 bid unlikely, but the speculation was enough for Trump to use it as a punchline.
The exchange now connects three different stories at once: Trump’s controversial MSG visit, Smith’s Knicks heartbreak, and the ESPN star’s political curiosity becoming material for a presidential jab.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
