Topline
Stephen A. Smith suggested Thursday he would select Gov. Wes Moore, D-Md., as his running mate if he ran for president, though the television personality told Forbes a presidential bid in 2028 is “highly unlikely” after saying earlier this year he had “no choice” but to consider a run for the Oval Office.
Smith, speaking at the 2025 ForbesBLK Summit, said, “I believe I can win the presidency if I really put my heart to it, I truly do,” before noting he has no desire to be a politician and that a presidential run is unlikely “especially with the money I’m making.”
Smith said his reluctance to run is also rooted in dealing with the “chaos on Capitol Hill,” having to curry and return favors with other politicians and campaign trail fundraising.
“I would love to debate them for them to justify the things that they have done to this country on both sides of the aisle, because I think they played us all as suckers and it really ticks me off,” Smith added, saying “in that regard, I leave the door open because I want that palpable fear that I may be on that stage in 2027 debating them.”
Smith said “I really, really like Wes Moore” when asked about a potential running mate, stating the Maryland governor “cares about people, and he cares about what's in our best interest, but he's also a realist.”