Stephen A. Smith Stands by Four-hour Dinner With Trump, Rebukes Critics

WHO:

Fox News - Stephen A. Smith, host of “Straight Shooter” and an ESPN host, defended his meeting with President Donald Trump.

Fox News - Smith met with Trump, comedian Bill Maher, and musician Kid Rock at the White House; Fox News describes the gathering as a dinner.

Fox News - Smith criticized comedian D.L. Hughley, who had questioned the meeting on the “Uncertain” podcast.

Fox News - On “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin asked Smith whether he thought meeting Trump, whom she said had a history of racial bias, had achieved anything.

Fox News - Fox News contributor Joe Concha called Smith and Maher, along with John Fetterman, “a dying breed” who believe in exchanging ideas with people they may disagree with.

Daily Mail Sports - Smith faced backlash from fans after news of the dinner emerged.

WHAT:

Fox News - Smith said he wanted to raise several issues with Trump, particularly how the end of DEI initiatives had discouraged private-sector CEOs from giving philanthropically to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Fox News - Smith said Trump told him he had not considered the issue and would tackle it, then called to assure him he would address it when meeting HBCU officials.

Fox News - Smith said, “I’m not apologizing for that to anybody,” and challenged critics: “What the f--- are you doing?”

Fox News - Smith said he was willing to exhaust every means to act in the best interests of his community and argued people would have to deal with Trump as president.

Fox News - Smith told Hostin, “I don’t know. We’ll find out, but he’s the president of the United States, and I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try.”

Fox News - Hughley asked why Trump felt comfortable talking with Smith despite, Hughley said, Trump’s aversion to people who challenge him. Hughley added, “Why is it the people that hate my heroes love you?”

WHERE:

Fox News - The meeting took place at the White House.

Fox News - Smith discussed the meeting on “Straight Shooter” and “The View.”

WHY:

Fox News - Smith said he met with Trump to try to advance issues affecting his community, including corporate philanthropy for HBCUs.

Fox News - Concha said the dinner exemplified the exchange of ideas and criticized what he described as a trend on the left to shut down debate through censorship.

HOW:

Daily Mail Sports - The article describes the dinner as lasting four hours and says Smith attended after an invitation from Maher.

(UPDATED October 24, 2026 17:07 UTC)

Stephen A. Smith is defending his decision to meet President Trump, saying he wanted to raise issues affecting his community. Smith met Trump, comedian Bill Maher and musician Kid Rock for a dinner at the White House, which lasted four hours. On his show, “Straight Shooter,” Smith said the end of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives had discouraged private-sector leaders from giving to historically Black colleges and universities. He said Trump told him he had not considered the issue, would tackle it, and later called to say he would address it when meeting HBCU officials. On “The View,” co-host Sunny Hostin asked whether the meeting had achieved anything. Smith replied, “I don’t know. We’ll find out,” adding that Trump is president and he would keep trying. Smith criticized D.L. Hughley for questioning the meeting, and faced backlash from fans.