Former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly is encouraging ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith to seriously consider a run for the White House in 2028, arguing that President Donald Trump’s political rise has created an opening for unconventional candidates.

“I think he should run, and I’m being serious now,” O’Reilly told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo during an appearance on Cuomo.

“[President Donald] Trump opened the door for you,” O’Reilly quipped, speaking directly to Smith. “You should send Trump a big bouquet of flowers. He opened the door for you.”

Smith, one of the most recognizable voices in sports media, has recently begun softening his previous stance against entering politics. While he once dismissed the idea outright, he now says he is at least willing to think about it.

“Once upon a time, it was emphatically no. That has quelled to some degree,” Smith said, though he emphasized he was not eager to be “interrupting my quality of life.”

O’Reilly acknowledged that Smith would face steep odds in a presidential race but suggested his candidacy could still have a meaningful impact on the national conversation.

“You can run, and you — but don’t have any expectation of winning,” O’Reilly said.

“See, you’re what you’re doing is you’re taking a furlough from your dopey sports show, and you’re saying, I’ll be back, because I’m not going to win,” O’Reilly continued. “But you’re injecting yourself into the debate, the national debate, and you’re exposing the charlatans, which would be an amazing historical achievement.”

Smith, known for his blunt, firebrand style, agreed that the idea of debating career politicians holds strong appeal.

He said he would “give anything to be on a debate stage” with aspiring candidates, warning that they would face intense scrutiny if he decided to jump in.

“If you ever put me on that debate stage with some of these politicians aspiring for high office, with the nonsense that they’ve engaged in, with the behavior they’ve exercised, with the tendencies that they’ve displayed, and the lack of consideration to the American people going up against me, good luck,” he added.

Smith also cast himself as someone motivated by concern for the country, suggesting that the broad appeal he has built in television could translate into political support.

He argued that Americans want leaders who prioritize the nation’s well-being over partisan gamesmanship.

Still, Smith made clear that he would not enter a race simply to make headlines. If he ever launched a campaign, he said, it would be with the intention of winning.

“I don’t play to lose … and if I decide to do it, I’m telling you I intend to win,” Smith said. “Make no mistake about it. I won’t do it unless I believe I have a legitimate shot to win it, the presidency.”

Smith has also pushed back against claims—often promoted by left-wing pundits—that racism would be a decisive barrier if he pursued the presidency.

In an extended interview with CBS News’ Robert Costa for CBS Sunday Morning, Smith dismissed the notion that racial prejudice would define a potential campaign.

“Do you worry about racism if you ran for president?” Costa asked.

“No. I know it exists. I know that you can’t escape it, but I do not believe it is as prevalent as some on the left would like us to believe,” Smith answered. “I do believe a vast majority of Americans judge you on the content of your character, rather than the color of your skin.”

He continued:

“I think a lot of people in America, especially in this day in age, now more so than ever before, it’s not about race. It’s about the fact they don’t give a damn about it, because they got their own problems.

That’s entirely different than believing they are superior to you and want to hold you back from ascending. That’s not what’s going on to the degree it was decades ago.”

Smith’s remarks reflect a view shared by many Americans: that everyday concerns such as inflation, border security, crime, and foreign policy matter far more to voters than the identity-focused narratives pushed by progressive activists.

If elected in 2028, Smith would become the second Black president, two decades after Barack Obama’s historic victory in 2008. But Smith has made clear that he does not see race as the defining issue of any potential campaign. Instead, he argues that leadership, competence, and a commitment to the American people are what voters ultimately care about most.

For now, Smith continues to hint—without fully committing—that a presidential run is no longer out of the question. And with figures like O’Reilly urging him forward, speculation about his political future is likely to keep growing.