In a late-night response from New York, President Trump addressed ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith’s fiery remarks, where Smith suggested that he would hold Trump accountable if the Knicks were defeated in Game 3 of the NBA finals.
Smith, who is rumored to be a potential Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential election, criticized Trump’s presence at Monday’s game held at Madison Square Garden. He remarked, “If the New York Knicks end up losing tonight, I’m holding him responsible.”
Before his departure from JFK Airport back to Washington, Trump commented on Smith’s energetic segment on “First Take.” He acknowledged Smith as a “nice guy” but questioned his intellectual capacity.
“Running for president requires a certain level of aptitude,” Trump remarked.
“It demands a high IQ, something I’m uncertain Stephen possesses. I really don’t think he does.”
Trump attended the game, where the Knicks faced off against the San Antonio Spurs, alongside his granddaughter Kai. With this appearance, he became the first sitting president to be present at an NBA finals game.
He saluted the NYPD officers carrying the American flag during the National Anthem.
But Smith made his opposition about Trump’s attendance clear in an unhinged on-air rant.
“If it causes the New York Knicks to lose tonight, I’m blaming him,” he raged, which sparked laughter in the studio.
“I’m blaming the president of the United States! I’m gonna stay on that.
“I’ve been fair-minded, down the middle as an Independent for a long time. Hell hath no fury like Stephen A. scorned if the New York Knicks lose tonight.
“I’m gonna be in their a– like back pockets, like white on rice. I’m telling you that right now.
“We better not lose tonight’s game! We were riding, we were flowing, and this man gonna show up to the Garden tonight. You gotta be kidding me!”
Smith branded Trump’s decision to attend the game as “selfish and narcissistic.”
“This president has no business showing up in New York City,” he claimed.
Smith then tried to clarify he would’ve been equally opposed to a sitting Democratic president attending the game.
“I would say the same thing about Obama, George W., Clinton, I don’t give a damn if we went back to Reagan,” he said.
“This is not a football stadium in some space of Texas where you got a whole bunch of outlays. This is the Garden. This is midtown Manhattan.”
The Knicks lost 115-111, which means the team leads the series 2-1.
Game 4 of the series takes place at the Garden Wednesday night.
