Stephen A. Smith U-turns on run for President amid Donald Trump’s tariff mayhem in bombshell message

Stephen A. Smith says he is now genuinely considering running for President after being approached by ‘elected officials’ over a shot at the White House.

The ESPN analyst tweeted a link to a Barrett Media article where he revealed he is walking back on his claims he would never run for office.

‘Time to stop messing around,’ he wrote on X. ‘Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess. So I’m officially leaving all doors open.’

In the Barrett Media article, Smith said: ‘Over the last few weeks, I’ve had no choice but to get more serious about it.

‘I’ve been approached by people on Capitol Hill. I’ve been approached by people who are elected officials in office, whether it’s governors or mayors or what have you. People have legitimately, seriously, asked me about it. 

I have no desire to be a politician, but I’ve decided that I’m no longer going to close that door. I’m gonna keep my options open. I’m going to entertain the possibility. 

‘If it comes in late 2026, 2027, where I look at this country and think it’s an absolute mess and there’s legitimate reason to believe … that I indeed have a legitimate shot to win the presidency of the United States. I am not going to rule it out.’

His comments come amid Donald Trump’s controversial tariffs policy causing chaos on the stock market and threatening to cause an all-out global trade war. 

Major indexes have lost around 10 percent of their value since last week, when Trump unveiled the controversial ‘liberation day’ tariffs he says will boost US manufacturing.

Many, however, have argued it will only spur stagnancy, while thrusting the US in the throes of what could become a self-induced recession.

Defenders of the president, meanwhile, have argued the pains that come in the short-term – including slumping 401(k) savings – will be worth it in the end. 

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