Stephen A. Smith says he has 'no choice' but to consider a run for president
Smith says people asking him to run is an indictment of the Democratic Party.
Stephen A. Smith, Host of ESPN's "First Take," hammered the Democratic Party and suggested he has "no choice" but to consider a run for president.
"I have no choice, because I've had elected officials, and I'm not going to give their names, elected officials coming up to me. I've had folks who are pundits come up to me. I've had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others that have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature. I'm not a politician. I've never had a desire to be a politician," Smith told ABC News' "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl.
Smith reiterated that because of the number of people asking him to consider a run, he has to leave the door open.
"Here's the reality: People, literally people, have walked up to me, including my own pastor, for crying out loud, who has said to me, 'You don't know what God has planned for you. At least show the respect to the people who believe in you, who respect you, who believe that you can make a difference in this country, to leave the door open for any possibilities some to three years down the line.' And that's what I've decided to do."
Smith made headlines earlier this week when he said he was leaving the door open to a run for president in 2028. The sports commentator and host of his own show -- "The Stephen A. Smith Show" -- has become a vocal critic of the Democratic Party in the wake of its sweeping losses in last November's elections, which resulted in the party being locked out of power in Washington during Trump's second term.
Here are more highlights from Smith's interview: