ESPN's Stephen A. Smith has quite the life going for him right now. As host of the highly rated First Take, the 57-year-old is reportedly making $12 million per year and as of last December, was in negotiations to raise that number to $20 million.
However, amid a ravaged United States political climate, Smith has begun to garner some interest as a potential Democratic Party candidate in the 2028 presidential election.
In an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night, Smith addressed said speculation—as well as several headlines connecting him to a campaign:
"Folks are nuts, No. 1," Smith laughed. "No. 2, the Democratic Party, they lost, they've had a bad few months. We all know this. Even though there's a lot of qualified democrats all over the country from a local perspective—governors, mayors, stuff like that—there's no real national voice, until moi. They've come to me."
"I did not ask for this," he continued. "I don't want this. I happen to have a very, very good life. A very good job. I'm good, very good... They even got me in the polls, man. I think the number's up to like 7.6% I watch these things and I'm like, 'Wait a minute now, I don't wanna do this." But the fact that they're talking about me this way? I must say, I approve this message."
.@stephenasmith addresses rumors that he’s running for President in 2028 👀 #FallonTonight pic.twitter.com/I2gu7rwSNV
— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 6, 2025
That's certainly not a no.
Smith was also on The View earlier this week and confidently told the dais that he, "can beat them all,” referring to other Democratic candidates.
After previously saying that he wouldn't run, it's certainly starting to sound like—at the very least—he's now open to the possiblity.
What a world.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Stephen A. Smith Responds to Rumblings That He Could Run for President in 2028.
