President Donald Trump might have had a snoozy time attending the NBA Finals on June 8 at Madison Square Garden, but he was ready to be combative toward one of his most vocal critics after the game.
Sports analyst and diehard Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith was highly critical of Trump attending the Finals before Monday, going so far as to say he would blame Trump if the Knicks lost. The Knicks lost a nail-biter, and Trump was asked about Smith’s comments as he returned to the White House.
Trump, 79, took aim at Smith’s once-pondered presidential ambitions.
“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.”
Smith, 58, had teased a presidential run as a Democrat at the beginning of Trump’s second term. However, he put the idea to rest in March, saying, “I don’t think I’m running… because I’ve got to give up my money. Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed. If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.”
When he learned of Trump’s comments, the First Take host went off — but didn’t respond to Trump’s “low IQ” dig. Speaking on the June 9 edition of the show, Smith said, “Our president showed up to New York City last night … and needless to say, what I feared would happen ended up happening: The New York Knicks lost.”
“Obviously I’m blaming him,” Smith said. “The president disrupted our mojo. I’ve said this on many occasions over the last 24 hours, and I am saying it again: The man messed things up.”
The Knicks were on a 13-game playoffs winning streak before Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden at Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
It’s possible that Smith’s response on First Take won’t be his last words on the matter. The analyst tends to speak more freely on his radio show, “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.,” on which he talks about politics and pop culture. There, he’s more openly criticized Trump, sounding off on the war in Iran and gerrymandering.
Smith has also been known to drag out feuds before. For example, he has used his shows to fire grievances at conservative sports analyst Jason Whitlock for years.