ESPN
Since losing the 2024 Presidential election, a common refrain among Democratic circles has been their need to find their “own Joe Rogan.” What that means is they need someone as loud and as popular as the cubic UFC podcaster with liberal-leaning views in order to spread this message, particularly to a younger audience. And based on recent polling, that person may be ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
In recent weeks, the longtime 57-year-old ESPN personality and hot take artist has been polling among other potential 2028 Democratic candidates such as Kamala Harris (who just lost to Trump), Pete Buttigieg, Gavin Newsome, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Josh Shapiro, and Tim Walz. Smith is polling just one percentage point behind the recent VP candidate, in fact.
Fox News
Smith has addressed these developments on both social media and his podcast, and has now taken the idea to the national airwaves, too, suggesting this is something he’s prepared to lean into.
During the hand-off from Get Up! to First Take on Thursday, February 6, Get Up! host Mike Greenberg introduced Smith as “possible the next President,” which is a message that SAS wholeheartedly approved.
“It is time for us to wrap up Get Up! and hand it off to not only the biggest name in sports conversation, but quite possibly, the next President of the United States, my friend Stephen A. Smith has made it up here for First Take,” Greeny said.
“I approve that message — no doubt!” Smith responded.
The momentum behind the idea of Smith running for president is undeniably growing, as a social media account called “Stephen A. Smith 2028” (@SASForPres) has recently started going viral and as a result, has exploded, going from 1,000 follower to over 10,000 followers in just 24 hours (it’ll likely be a larger number by the time you read this). One viral tweet even claimed the “head of the DNC” followed the “SAS for Pres” account, although that is unconfirmed.
Stephen A: “I might entertain running for President” pic.twitter.com/8tgO31vc6F
— Stephen A. Smith 2028 (@SASForPres) February 1, 2025
— Stephen A. Smith 2028 (@SASForPres) February 6, 2025
As a result of this seemingly grassroots movement, some of Smith’s past and current political opinions have been dug up, such as his support of Bernie Sanders and the LGBTQ+ community.
“I loved hearing Bernie Sanders. He personifies my views as an Independent,” Smith tweeted in December 2009, with a viral tweet re-amplying Smith’s post racking up over 22,000 likes.
“I’ve often said this to a lot of people: I’ve said this to black folks, I’ve said this to folks, whether you’re heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgender — I don’t care!” Smith said while discussing President Trump’s executive order banning transgender athletes from women’s sports.
“You know what I’ve said often times — when you’re talking about civil rights and civil liberties for every human being out here, that is a fight worth fighting for. I will fight on behal of the LGBTQ+ community any day of the week, just as much as I fight for the black community, for the heterosexual community — I don’t care! Right is right.”
While the idea of SAS running for president largely feels like a meme right now, it’s important to remember that’s exactly how Donald Trump’s political career began, too.
— KJ 🐵 (@BirdAppKJ) February 5, 2025