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Stephen A Smith fires back and challenges Trump to a debate showdown

June 11, 2026 | | Print Article

ESPN commentator and Sirius XM host Stephen A. Smith continued his ongoing feud with President Trump, telling him that his personal attacks aren’t “gonna work.”

The war of words began over Smith’s harsh criticism of Trump’s decision to attend the Game 3 Finals NY Knicks game, citing logistical nightmares and a distraction for the team.

“This president has no business showing up in New York City,” Smith said on Monday before the game. “I am dead serious. It is selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous that he is coming to this game.

“If it causes the New York Knicks to lose tonight, I’m blaming him,” he added.

Trump fired back after the Knicks lost, taking a shot at rumors that Smith might someday run for president.

“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does actually.”

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Smith said he appreciated being called a “nice guy” but blasted the president for being “money hungry.”

Trump responded in kind by slamming Smith on Truth Social on Wednesday:

Smith appeared surprised by the personal insults, but was up for the challenge to prove he’s not “low IQ.”

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“Because I called them out for inconvenience in the momentum that we had built in route to entering game three for the NBA Finals, I’m a fool,” he said. “He actually called me arrogant. You, of all people, will call somebody arrogant? Really, Mr. President? That’s where you’re going?” Smith said, according to Mediaite.

“I will not disrespect this man on a personal level. And I have to say this before I go where I’m going. The president said I was a nice guy. I got to tell you something. He’s always been nice to me. The first insult or cruel thing he said about me was in the quote on his post on his Truth Social platform,” he said. “Of all the years that I’ve known Donald Trump, that’s the first mean-spirited thing he’s ever done to me personally.”

But Smith was just getting started and challenged Trump to a debate.

“You think those one-liners are gonna work? You got another thing coming… Debate? I do that every day. Every day. You really, really think being on a stage against me would be comparable to you being on a stage with Joe Biden?” he said.

“You really think that would be me, Mr. President? You sure about that? Name the time and place, and I’ll show up,” Smith continued.

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“Because you see, Mr. President, I don’t have a record when it comes to issues. You do. I must ask you, sir, is inflation heating up again? I think it is. Didn’t you promise us it wouldn’t? Are gas prices painfully high? I think it is. Didn’t you say you didn’t care? The war in Iran is dragging on over 100 days. Didn’t you say we weren’t in a war before you said we weren’t in a war? Before you said it would be over, before we realized it’s not over. Isn’t the Straight of Hormuz still closed? Aren’t drones still being blown out of the sky because Iran are sending drones to ships to try to go through? Didn’t that stuff happen? How about Russia and Ukraine? Didn’t you say you would end that in a day? Isn’t that still going on?”

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