ESPN’s STEPHEN A. SMITH is the subject of this week’s “Lunch with the Financial Times.” The FINANCIAL TIMES’ Joshua Franklin writes that Smith, who has become America’s “leading provocateur of sports media,” is “looking to make a leap into politics, whether interviewing and endorsing candidates on his SiriusXM show -- or running for office himself.” For over a year, Smith has “fed speculation” that he might run for president in 2028, although he has “recently played down the prospect.” The talk has been “met with more openness” after PRESIDENT TRUMP was elected with zero political experience and where the “greatest superpower is the ability to command attention.” Smith predicts that his candidacy would be a “box-office draw that would attract 100mn people to watch him debate the other Democrats.” Smith said that he “could win the Democratic nomination ‘in my sleep.’” Franklin wrote, “Why wouldn’t he seriously consider a run?” Smith said, “The only reason why it’s not viable for me is because I’ve been told that, because of FCC equal time regulations, by virtue of what I do for a living, I would immediately have to give up my job.” A serious White House run “may be unlikely,” but Smith is at least “priming himself to act as a kingmaker,” wanting presidential candidates to “feel compelled to make a pilgrimage to his SiriusXM show.” Smith: “What I have no doubt I’m qualified for is to be what JOE ROGAN was to Donald Trump” (FINANCIAL TIMES, 5/29).
Stephen A. Smith fuels speculation about political future
