President Donald Trump escalated his war of words with ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith on Wednesday, labeling him an “arrogant fool” with a “low IQ” in a post on Truth Social. The attack came after Smith suggested Trump had no business attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, a move the commentator called “selfish” and “narcissistic.”
“Stephen A. Smith is an arrogant fool, a low IQ individual,” Trump wrote. “In other words, he’s ‘dumb as a rock,’ and totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office, or even low political office, for that matter!” The president also claimed Smith would “get annihilated” in a debate “by the most incompetent of politicians,” and compared his potential performance unfavorably to President Joe Biden’s widely panned 2024 debate showing. “Joe Biden’s now ‘fabled’ performance would look great by comparison to anything that this loudmouth huckster has to offer, which isn’t much!” Trump added. “Within a few weeks, they’d laugh him out of politics!!!”
The feud ignited Monday when Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs. Smith, a longtime Knicks fan and host of ESPN’s “First Take,” argued that Trump’s presence forced the cancellation of a watch party outside the arena and disrupted the team’s momentum after they had won the first two games. “It is selfish. It is narcissistic,” Smith said on air. “It is ridiculous that he is coming to this game.” He added that he would say the same about any former president attending, including Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, or Ronald Reagan.
After the Knicks lost 115-111, Trump told reporters that Smith was a “nice guy” but lacked the intelligence needed for a presidential run. “You need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.”
Smith fired back the next morning on “First Take,” standing at a podium with an American flag on screen as “Hail to the Chief” played. He accused Trump of “disrupting our mojo” and mocked the president for appearing to doze off during the game. “The brother wasn’t awake,” Smith said, referencing clips of Trump with his eyes closed. “If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn’t you call out former President Joe Biden [as] ‘Sleepy Joe’? Well, what should we call you?”
The exchange marks the latest instance of Trump targeting media figures, a hallmark of his political style. Smith has occasionally floated the idea of running for president in 2028, though he remains primarily known for his sports commentary. The president’s broadside echoes his frequent attacks on opponents’ intelligence and fitness for office, a tactic he has used against figures ranging from Biden to Republican rivals.
The incident also highlights the intersection of sports and politics, a terrain Trump has often navigated. His decision to attend the NBA Finals came amid a busy week that included signing a $70 billion border security bill and embracing prediction markets, moves that have drawn both praise and scrutiny. The Knicks’ loss added a sour note to the evening, but Trump’s focus quickly shifted to his feud with Smith.
As the back-and-forth continues, Smith has shown no signs of backing down, while Trump has doubled down on his insults. The episode underscores the former president’s willingness to engage in personal attacks, even against figures outside the political arena, and his ability to dominate news cycles with a single social media post.
