Count President Trump among the people who would like to see sports commentator Stephen A. Smith run for president in 2028.
Mr. Smith has been flirting with the idea, fueling speculation about whether it’s a publicity stunt or a genuine effort to seek the Democratic presidential nomination.
“I have been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you I would love to see him run,” Mr. Trump said Wednesday night after calling into a NewsNation town hall.
The president said Mr. Smith, who has built his reputation as a hot-take specialist on ESPN, possesses skills that many Democrats lack.
“Steve A. — he is a good guy. He is a smart guy,” Mr. Trump said. “I love watching him. He has good entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him. You know, a lot of these Democrats I watch, I say they have no chance.”
Mr. Smith has never sought political office, but the 57-year-old has established himself, first as an NBA columnist at The Philadelphia Inquirer, then at ESPN, as one of the most well-known and popular figures in the world of sports commentary.
The New York City native leveraged that popularity into a podcast, where he shares his views on entertainment, pop culture and politics.
This has included his public dressing down of the Democratic Party.
Mr. Smith has said the mere idea that he’s being bandied about as a possible presidential contender shows how far the party has fallen.
His profile is not the traditional career path to the White House.
But neither was that of Mr. Trump, who went from being a real estate developer to a TV celebrity and undeniable kingpin of the modern-day Republican Party.
Democrats have kicked the tires on unconventional contenders in the past.
The list included Michael Avenatti, lawyer to Stephanie Clifford, the adult film star known as Stormy Daniels, who was at the center of hush money allegations against Mr. Trump that ended with a guilty verdict.
Mr. Avenatti’s political stardom came to a crashing halt due to his own legal problems, which ultimately led to his conviction and imprisonment for defrauding clients.
As it stands, Mr. Smith is on a long list of possible contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
Former Vice President Kamala Harris, the party’s 2024 nominee, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg could run.
For his part, Mr. Smith has said he has “no choice” but to consider entering the political fray because he’s being pressed by elected officials, political pundits and billionaires to give it a good look.
“I’m not a politician,” he said during a recent appearance on ABC’s “This Week.” “I’ve never had a desire to be a politician.”
• Seth McLaughlin can be reached at smclaughlin@washingtontimes.com.