Stephen A. Smith for president?

Donald Trump would “love to see” the ESPN host run for the White House, the current POTUS told a NewsNation town hall on Wednesday.

“Stephen A. is a good guy. He’s a smart guy. I love watching him,” Trump said, apparently without irony, after being asked if he had any advice for Smith, who was on the panel and has teased the idea of a presidential bid.

“He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important,” Trump continued of Smith. “People watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say they have no chance. I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you I’d love to see him run.”

Trump, who phoned into the event, garnered cheers from the audience.

Smith, though, shook his head and held it in one hand.

The president didn’t say when he’d want to see Smith run.

Trump has himself repeatedly talked about serving a possible third term, despite the massive constitutional and legal hurdles he would face in doing so.

Smith wrote on social media last month that he was “officially leaving all doors open” to a potential run because although “life is great,” he believed it was “time to stop messing around.”

“Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess,” he added.

Smith has been openly critical of the current state of the Democratic Party.

In a video he shared on social media earlier this year, the commentator said he is “an independent.” But it’s unclear whether a potential run would be as a Democrat in the style of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

“I have things that I am conservative about and I have things I am liberal about,” Smith said in the footage, describing himself as a “staunch” and “fiscal conservative” on money but “very liberal when it comes to living and let living.”

“It doesn’t matter whether I approve or disapprove, whether I like or don’t like,” he said. “I believe in living and let living. That’s how I roll.”