Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken ESPN personality and host of First Take, is known for his fiery views on sports, politics, and culture. But now, the sports analyst says he’s seriously considering an unexpected leap—a run for president in 2028—and it all began, he says, with encouragement from his pastor.
During an interview on ABC’s This Week with Jonathan Karl, Smith addressed growing speculation about his potential candidacy in the upcoming presidential election. When asked if he was really considering a run, Smith replied, “I have no choice.”
He explained that conversations with political figures, donors, pundits, and, most significantly, his pastor have played a role in prompting him to keep the door open. “People have walked up to me, including my own pastor for crying out loud, who have said to me, ‘You don’t know what God has planned for you… at least show respect to the people who believe in you… to leave the door open for any possibilities,'” Smith said. “And that’s what I’ve decided to do.”
Though Smith didn’t identify the pastor by name in the interview, he has previously referred to Pastor A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York, as his “spiritual father.” During a 2023 appearance on The View, Smith shared that Bernard doesn’t hesitate to challenge him, especially about his church attendance, saying, “You’re not at church enough.”
Smith, who recently signed a $100 million contract with ESPN, insists he’s happy in his current role. Still, he acknowledged that the current political landscape has left many Americans, including himself, feeling disillusioned.
“I don’t mind the thought of tussling with these folks at all — on the left or the right,” he said. “All of them disgust me, to be quite honest with you.”
While expressing admiration for Democratic leaders like Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, Smith was critical of his party’s lack of vision and ability to lead effectively. “The Democratic Party… doesn’t seem to have any mission, any vision, any kind of leadership,” he said. “They talk and they talk and they talk, but what can they do?”
Smith expressed frustration with the Democrats’ failure to respond effectively to Trump-era policies, including tariffs. He also criticized the party’s focus on issues like woke culture and cancel culture instead of addressing economic concerns that resonate with everyday Americans.
“The American people already said during the last election, ‘[Trump’s] a bit more normal or closer to normal than the Democratic Party,’ and that’s where the real problem lies,” he added.
Interestingly, Smith has already appeared in early polls for the 2028 Democratic primary. Though polling is low, at one percent and two percent in two McLaughlin & Associates surveys, his presence speaks to the influence his voice carries. “That’s why somebody who’s a sports analyst, for crying out loud, is in the doggone polls,” he quipped. “It’s an indictment against the Democratic Party that doesn’t have leadership, it doesn’t have a vision.”
Whether Stephen A. Smith ultimately enters the political ring remains to be seen. But his openness to the idea—rooted in faith and a desire to make a difference—is already sparking conversation.
As his pastor reminded him, “You don’t know what God has planned for you.” And in Smith’s own words, he’s “leaving the door open.”