OโReilly Pushing Stephen A. Smith To Run For White House
Former Fox News host Bill OโReilly is encouraging ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith to seriously consider a run for the White House in 2028, arguing that President Donald Trumpโs political rise has created an opening for unconventional candidates.
โI think he should run, and Iโm being serious now,โ OโReilly told NewsNation host Chris Cuomo during an appearance on Cuomo.
โ[President Donald] Trump opened the door for you,โ OโReilly quipped, speaking directly to Smith. โYou should send Trump a big bouquet of flowers. He opened the door for you.โ
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.
โOnce upon a time, it was emphatically no. That has quelled to some degree,โ Smith said, though he emphasized he was not eager to be โinterrupting my quality of life.โ
OโReilly 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.
โYou can run, and you โ but donโt have any expectation of winning,โ OโReilly said.
โSee, youโre what youโre doing is youโre taking a furlough from your dopey sports show, and youโre saying, Iโll be back, because Iโm not going to win,โ OโReilly continued. โBut youโre injecting yourself into the debate, the national debate, and youโre exposing the charlatans, which would be an amazing historical achievement.โ
Smith, known for his blunt, firebrand style, agreed that the idea of debating career politicians holds strong appeal.
He said he would โgive anything to be on a debate stageโ with aspiring candidates, warning that they would face intense scrutiny if he decided to jump in.
โIf you ever put me on that debate stage with some of these politicians aspiring for high office, with the nonsense that theyโve engaged in, with the behavior theyโve exercised, with the tendencies that theyโve displayed, and the lack of consideration to the American people going up against me, good luck,โ 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 nationโs 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.
โI donโt play to lose โฆ and if I decide to do it, Iโm telling you I intend to win,โ Smith said. โMake no mistake about it. I wonโt do it unless I believe I have a legitimate shot to win it, the presidency.โ
Smith has also pushed back against claimsโoften promoted by left-wing punditsโthat racism would be a decisive barrier if he pursued the presidency.
In an extended interview with CBS Newsโ Robert Costa for CBS Sunday Morning, Smith dismissed the notion that racial prejudice would define a potential campaign.
โDo you worry about racism if you ran for president?โ Costa asked.
โNo. I know it exists. I know that you canโt escape it, but I do not believe it is as prevalent as some on the left would like us to believe,โ Smith answered. โI do believe a vast majority of Americans judge you on the content of your character, rather than the color of your skin.โ
He continued:
โI think a lot of people in America, especially in this day in age, now more so than ever before, itโs not about race. Itโs about the fact they donโt give a damn about it, because they got their own problems.
Thatโs entirely different than believing they are superior to you and want to hold you back from ascending. Thatโs not whatโs going on to the degree it was decades ago.โ
Smithโs 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 Obamaโs 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 hintโwithout fully committingโthat a presidential run is no longer out of the question. And with figures like OโReilly urging him forward, speculation about his political future is likely to keep growing.















