Trump Launches Fiery Attack on Stephen A. Smith Amid Feud
WHO:
Fox News - President Trump, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith
Deadline - President Trump, Stephen A. Smith
WHAT:
Forbes - Trump stated that Smith would get “annihilated” by the most “incompetent of politicians” in a debate challenge.
Forbes - Smith claimed that businesses in the area were “compromised” due to Trump's attendance at the game, impacting their ability to serve customers.
Sportskeeda - Trump was booed by the crowd during Game 3 of the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals, where the Knicks lost 111-115.
Forbes - Trump stated that Stephen A. Smith would be "laughed out of politics" and described him as "dumb as a rock" and a "loudmouth huckster."
Forbes - Smith previously teased a 2028 Democratic presidential campaign but later indicated he would not run due to financial reasons related to his ESPN deal.
Forbes - Trump was booed by the crowd during Game 3 of the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals, where the Knicks lost 111-115.
Deadline - Trump stated that Stephen A. Smith is "totally unqualified to ever think of running" for office.
Fox News - President Trump referred to Stephen A. Smith as an "arrogant fool" and a "low IQ individual" on Truth Social.
Deadline - Trump responded to Smith's taunts regarding their IQs and images suggesting Trump was sleeping during the New York Knicks NBA Finals game.
WHERE:
Deadline - The comments were made on Truth Social, a social media platform.
WHEN:
Deadline - Trump made his comments on Truth Social on a Wednesday.
WHY:
Forbes - Smith criticized Trump for attending the game, stating it was “selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous” and blamed him for the chaos at Madison Square Garden.
Forbes - Smith criticized Trump for attending the game, stating it was "selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous" and blamed him for impacting local businesses due to enhanced security measures.
Deadline - The feud escalated due to Smith's teasing about Trump's behavior during the Knicks game.
HOW:
Forbes - Trump made his comments about Smith while speaking to reporters after the Knicks game.
Forbes - Trump made his comments about Smith while speaking to reporters on the tarmac before boarding Air Force One after the game.
Sportskeeda - Trump made his comments following his return from Madison Square Garden.
Fox News - Trump utilized Truth Social to express his views on Smith.
(UPDATED June 11, 2026 14:20 UTC)
Trump challenged Smith to a debate, claiming he would be “annihilated” by the most “incompetent of politicians.” Smith responded by criticizing Trump for attending the game, saying it was “selfish, it is narcissistic, it is ridiculous,” and he accused Trump of compromising local businesses during the event. This exchange followed a Game 3 matchup in the NBA Finals, where the Knicks were booed by the crowd and ultimately lost to the Spurs with a score of 111 to 115.
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(UPDATED June 11, 2026 06:30 UTC)
Trump recently criticized Stephen A. Smith, calling him "dumb as a rock" and a "loudmouth huckster," claiming he would be "laughed out of politics." This exchange comes after Smith, who had previously hinted at a 2028 Democratic presidential run, decided against it due to financial constraints from his ESPN contract. The tension escalated during Game 3 of the Knicks-Spurs NBA Finals, where Trump was booed by the crowd as the Knicks lost 111 to 115, following Smith's remarks about Trump's attendance being "selfish" and detrimental to local businesses.
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(UPDATED June 11, 2026 01:44 UTC)
Trump has made headlines by declaring that Stephen A. Smith is "totally unqualified to ever think of running" for office. These remarks came right after Trump returned from an event at Madison Square Garden. The comments were reported by Sportskeeda shortly after they were made.
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(UPDATED June 10, 2026 16:15 UTC)
President Trump took to Truth Social to call ESPN's Stephen A. Smith an "arrogant fool" and a "low IQ individual," responding to Smith's taunts about their IQs and images suggesting Trump was dozing off during the New York Knicks NBA Finals game. This exchange marks a notable escalation in their ongoing feud, sparked by Smith's teasing about Trump's behavior during the game. Trump's comments were shared on a Wednesday, highlighting the contentious nature of their interactions on social media.