Stephen A. Smith isn’t holding back—and this time, his warning to the Democratic Party is impossible to ignore. The outspoken ESPN star, known for his fiery takes on sports, has increasingly turned his attention to politics, and his latest remarks on Donald Trump’s dominance are making waves.
Appearing on The View, Smith stunned the panel with his blunt assessment: Like it or not, Trump is potent, he’s coming, and he wins. If Democrats think they’re just one small step away from victory, Smith says they’re deluding themselves.
“I want somebody to step up and recognize: that man in the Oval Office—whether you like it or not—is potent,” Smith declared. “You have to find a way to beat him. This way is not the way.”
Smith’s comments come as Democrats grapple with Trump’s decisive 2024 win over Kamala Harris. While some on the left argue that the close vote margin suggests they’re still in the fight, Smith sees it differently. He believes that clinging to the same strategies that failed in 2024 is a recipe for disaster.
“The problem is, if you’re the Democratic Party and you lost 49.8% to 48.3%, and you’re looking at that 1.5% difference, that’s an excuse for you to say: ‘What we did really wasn’t that bad. We should continue to do that.’ No—find a new strategy.”
Smith, who has hinted at his own political aspirations, insists he’s not a Trump supporter but refuses to ignore the facts. He pointed to Trump’s ability to increase support among Black, Latino, and young voters—something many political analysts failed to predict.
“Let me be very clear: I’m no supporter of Trump. I’m a supporter of truth and the facts,” Smith emphasized. “And here are the facts—he won every swing state, he increased voter turnout in his favor, and 89% of counties shifted to the right. That’s a mandate.”
Smith also took aim at those who try to downplay Trump’s victory by pointing to past elections. “In 2020, Trump didn’t win the popular vote. He didn’t win the electoral college vote. As a matter of fact, the Republicans hadn’t won the popular vote since 2004. But they did this year.”
While Smith acknowledged that some voters—particularly Black and Latino communities—might end up regretting their choice, he stressed that the 2024 election wasn’t about love for Trump. Instead, it was a rejection of what the Democratic Party was offering.
“The American people, in their eyes, it wasn’t about him. They were voting against what the Democrats were throwing in their direction,” he explained.
Despite his critique, Smith did name a few Democrats he believes have potential, including Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Maryland Governor Wes Moore. But he warned that unless the party fundamentally rethinks its approach, Trump and the Republican Party will remain a dominant force.
“Twenty years after they last won the popular vote, they won the popular vote, the electoral college, and every swing state,” Smith said. “I don’t understand how people can look at that and say: ‘There’s no mandate.’ There’s a mandate.”
With the political landscape shifting rapidly, Smith’s words serve as a stark wake-up call to Democrats: Adapt or face another crushing defeat.
