Stephen A. Smith spent a year telling America he might be president.
Then the New York Knicks lost – and so did Stephen A.
Trump walked out of Madison Square Garden Monday night and ended the whole conversation in one sentence.
The Setup Stephen A. Built for Himself
Before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, Smith announced that Trump had "no business" showing up at MSG.
He said the president attending would create "unnecessary chaos" around the biggest Knicks game in 27 years.
Then he went further – if the Knicks lost, he would blame Trump.
He did not say he'd give Trump credit if they won.
Victor Wembanyama dropped 32 points and 8 rebounds as the Spurs beat the Knicks 115-111, cutting New York's series lead to 2-1.
https://twitter.com/big_business_/status/2064368315854659949?s=20
Trump, watching from owner James Dolan's suite alongside granddaughter Kai and Cabinet secretaries Sean Duffy, Lee Zeldin, and Doug Burgum, boarded Air Force One and fielded a question about Smith's blame game.
His answer was the four words that will follow Stephen A. Smith for the next two years.
"You need a high IQ," he began.
"I'm not sure that Stephen has that," Trump added. "I don't think he does, actually."
What Trump Just Did to the 2028 Race
This wasn't a random celebrity feud.
Smith has spent more than a year publicly building toward a 2028 presidential run.
He told CBS News this February he was giving "strong consideration" to entering the race.
He said elected officials – governors, mayors, members of Congress – had personally approached him and urged him to run.
He told The Rubin Report he'd do it if someone could figure out how he keeps his $40 million salary while serving.
That last part is the tell.
Smith earns roughly $33 million from ESPN and SiriusXM alone, with YouTube and podcast revenue pushing the total toward $40 million annually.
The president earns $400,000 a year.
Smith has been auditioning for a campaign the same way he hosts First Take – by being loud, generating controversy, and keeping himself in the conversation.
Trump just turned that strategy against him in four words.
The Trap Stephen A. Walked Into
The whole premise of Smith's pre-game complaint was political theater.
He claimed he'd feel the same way about any president attending – Obama, Bush, Clinton, Reagan.
Maybe. But that's not the question.
The question is whether President Stephen A. Smith would skip a Knicks NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden.
Smith became one of the most powerful voices in American sports media by inserting himself into every major moment.
He doesn't avoid the spotlight – he chases it.
Smith complained about exactly the behavior he would replicate in a heartbeat if the roles were reversed.
Trump saw it immediately – and instead of engaging with Smith's blame game on its own terms, he redirected the entire story.
https://twitter.com/TheDunkCentral/status/2064003038755377345?s=20
He didn't defend his attendance.
He questioned whether Stephen A. Smith is smart enough to be president.
What Trump Just Ended
Trump didn't stumble into this response.
He's been doing this for a decade – taking someone's own premise and using it to disqualify them.
Smith handed him the perfect setup: "I'm presidential material, and your presence here is a problem."
Trump's answer made the setup disappear.
Now every time Smith mentions 2028, this quote follows him onto the stage.
Every debate moderator has a clip ready.
Every donor who's been approached by Smith's people is going to wonder if the candidate can survive the first question about his IQ.
Trump didn't torch the Knicks excuse.
He torched the entire candidacy – walking out of the first presidential NBA Finals appearance in history, on his way back to the White House, in four words.
Smith said he'd blame Trump if the Knicks lost.
He never considered Trump might make him the biggest loser of the night.
Sources:
- Dan Zaksheske, "Trump torches Stephen A. Smith's presidential hopes after Knicks lose Game 3," OutKick, June 9, 2026.
- "Stephen A. Smith teases 2028 presidential run," The Washington Times, February 15, 2026.
- "Stephen A. Smith discloses more details on presidential run," Yahoo Sports, February 16, 2026.
- "Stephen A. Smith on possible 2028 run: 'Come up with a way for me to keep my money,'" The Hill, February 27, 2026.
- "Trump becomes first sitting president to attend NBA Finals game," ESPN, June 9, 2026.
