Donald Trump Questions Stephen A. Smith’s Intellect Following Knicks Game Attendance
Donald Trump has publicly criticized ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith after the broadcaster suggested the president’s presence at a Knicks game was a distraction.
Donald Trump clapped back at ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday, questioning the television personality’s intellect after Smith suggested the president’s presence at Madison Square Garden contributed to a New York Knicks loss.
The exchange followed Monday night’s Game 3 of the NBA Finals, where the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Knicks 115-111. Trump, the first sitting president to attend an NBA Finals game, was met with a chorus of boos when his image appeared on the arena’s Jumbotron during the national anthem.
While boarding Air Force One for his return to Washington, D.C., Trump responded to Smith’s earlier comments that he would hold the president responsible for a New York defeat. Trump also addressed Smith’s long-standing hints at a potential future presidential run. “I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump told a Fox News reporter. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.”
Smith had expressed his disapproval of the visit on his podcast earlier Monday, describing the president’s appearance as an act of narcissism. Smith argued that Trump had “no business” at the game and was “disrupting everything the Knicks have been vibing with.”
Spike Lee Speaks
The ESPN host was not the only prominent figure to criticize the visit. Filmmaker and Knicks superfan Spike Lee expressed frustration to CNN, noting that the increased security required fans to arrive hours early. Lee, who wore a jersey signed by Pope Leo XIV, said the political spectacle took the focus away from the team’s quest for its first championship since 1973.
The president attended the game with a large delegation, including his granddaughter Kai Trump and several Cabinet members, such as Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Despite the high-profile company, Trump faced online mockery after cameras appeared to catch him falling asleep during the contest.
Trump’s visit was facilitated by Knicks owner James Dolan, a frequent donor to the president’s campaigns. The president is expected to remain in the sporting spotlight this week, as he prepares to host a UFC event on the White House lawn this Sunday in celebration of his birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary.