Stephen A. Smith Pushes Back at ‘The View’ Over Trump Dinner

WHO:

NY Post - Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN host, met with Trump, comedian Bill Maher and Kid Rock at the White House.

Fox News - Smith discussed the meeting with co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro on ABC’s “The View.”

Fox News - Smith said Maher also questioned Trump during the meeting.

Fox News - Nicholas Fondacaro, associate editor of the Media Research Center’s NewsBusters, commented on “The View” hosts’ response to the meeting.

Fox News - Kid Rock discussed the dinner on “Fox & Friends.”

WHAT:

NY Post - Smith pushed back at “The View” hosts in defense of his White House dinner with Trump, saying, “I’ll be damned.”

Fox News - Smith said he would not apologize for meeting Trump: “He’s the president of the United States, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try.”

Fox News - Asked whether the meeting achieved anything, Smith replied, “I don’t know. We’ll find out.”

Fox News - Smith said he pressed Trump several times about the war in Iran. He also said he regularly challenges Trump on his SiriusXM show.

Fox News - Smith said he wanted to exhaust every means to pursue what was best for his community and was “not apologizing for that to anybody.”

Fox News - Hostin raised the possibility of Trump being impeached after the midterm elections. Smith predicted Republicans would maintain the Senate and probably lose the House; he said the House could impeach Trump but Republicans would then “step in and save him.”

Fox News - Smith said Trump would not leave office until 2028 and that people would have to deal with him.

Fox News - The “View” co-hosts said they had invited Trump onto the show. Navarro had said she would not meet with him.

Fox News - Fondacaro said the hosts were “visibly shocked” that Trump appeared to hear Smith out and called him again to hear his argument before meeting with others about HBCUs.

Fox News - Kid Rock said the group had a “great conversation,” describing “two Democrats, two Republicans” sharing a meal, laughing and discussing difficult issues. He said they agreed socialism and communism should have no foothold in government.

WHERE:

NY Post - The dinner took place at the White House.

Fox News - Smith appeared on ABC’s “The View”; the meeting with Trump took place at the White House.

WHY:

Fox News - Smith said he met with Trump because Trump was president and because he wanted to pursue measures he believed would benefit his community.

HOW:

Fox News - Hostin questioned Smith about whether the meeting achieved anything and Trump’s history of racial bias; Navarro asked whether Smith had pushed back against Trump.

(UPDATED October 22, 2026 04:13 UTC)

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith defended his White House dinner with President Trump during an appearance on ABC’s “The View,” saying he would not apologize for meeting the president. Smith said he wanted to pursue anything that could benefit his community and had pressed Trump several times about the war in Iran. Asked whether the meeting accomplished anything, Smith replied, “I don’t know. We’ll find out.” Co-hosts Sunny Hostin and Ana Navarro questioned him about Trump’s record and whether he challenged him; Navarro has said she would not meet with Trump. Smith predicted Republicans would keep the Senate but probably lose the House, which could impeach Trump, though he said Republicans would protect him. Kid Rock, also at the dinner, described a lively conversation among Democrats and Republicans about difficult issues.