ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has dismissed speculation about a potential 2028 presidential run, stating that he is unwilling to forgo his substantial income. In a recent interview on Sean Hannity's podcast, Smith said, “I don’t think I’m running either ‘cause I gotta give up my money. I ain’t giving up my money.”
Smith, who hosts First Take on ESPN and a SiriusXM show, reportedly earns nearly $40 million annually, including a $100 million contract over five years with ESPN and $36 million over three years with SiriusXM. Despite previous hints at a political career, he now says the financial sacrifice is too great.
While Smith has identified as a centrist and moderate, and said he would run as a Democrat if he did, he told CBS News in February that he has “no desire to be a politician, zero.” However, he left the door slightly ajar, saying he would love to debate other candidates to offer a voice that “genuinely cares about making life better for them instead of yourself.”
Smith has described himself as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, with mixed views on immigration. He supports strong borders but not completely closed ones, calling the US a “gorgeous mosaic.” President Donald Trump, a fan of Smith, has expressed support for a potential run, calling him “good” and “smart.”
