Trump fires – President Donald Trump escalated his public feud with ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith on Wednesday, June 10, after the two traded barbs around Trump’s attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden. Trump posted on Truth Social calling Smith
President Donald Trump rode past New Yorkers on his way to Madison Square Garden for Game 3 of the NBA Finals—then the NBA went back to the headlines for a different reason. By the time the dust settled from the Knicks’ loss to the Spurs. his public fight with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith was back in the spotlight, and it escalated again on Wednesday, June 10.
Trump’s latest retaliation came in an early morning post on his Truth Social site. He declared Smith an “arrogant fool,” and added that he was “dumb as a rock, and totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office, or low political office for that matter!”
The feud has been unfolding in public forums since Trump appeared at Madison Square Garden for NBA Finals games. Their back-and-forth intensified after Smith criticized Trump ahead of Game 3. saying he would blame Trump for a Knicks loss because Trump’s decision to attend would disrupt the environment.
Smith’s message was sharp on Monday. He said, “This is about an individual engaging in a level of narcissism that really rakes my freakin’ nerves. He’s got no business here tonight. It has nothing to do with politics. It was everything to do with the fervor that exists around the New York Knicks and he is disrupting everything the Knicks have been vibing with.”.
Trump addressed the criticism after Game 3, when the Knicks lost to the Spurs. Asked by reporters about Smith’s comments. Trump said. “I think he’s a nice guy. but you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does actually.”.
On Tuesday, Smith fired back during ESPN’s “First Take” and on his podcast. He challenged Trump to a one-on-one debate regarding the president’s “IQ” remark. Backed by patriotic music, Smith told viewers, “obviously, I’m blaming him” for the Knicks Game 3 loss.
Smith’s criticism went beyond Trump’s intelligence. He pointed to traffic around Madison Square Garden. the cancellation of the Knicks watch party outside the arena for fans who couldn’t afford Finals tickets. and the loss of business in the surrounding area tied to security protocols for the presidential visit. He also attacked Trump for appearing to fall asleep in some photos taken during the game.
“ If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep?” Smith said. “Didn’t you call out former President Joe Biden, ‘Sleepy Joe’? Well, what should we call you? Cause you weren’t awake.”
Later on his podcast, Smith added, “To see them in this position and to disrupt the momentum they’ve built, I called narcissistic and selfish. Why would I do such a thing? Because it’s Donald Trump, that’s why. Because it’s factually correct, that’s why. Because he had no business at the game.”
Smith’s podcast has also served as a platform for his political commentary separate from ESPN in recent years. He’s been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate, though Smith has not run for any political office. Trump’s Wednesday morning post took direct aim at that possibility.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “He’d get annihilated in a debate by the most incompetent of politicians. Joe Biden’s now ‘fabled’ performance would look great by comparison to anything that this loudmouth huckster has to offer, which isn’t much! Within a few weeks, they’d laugh him out of politics!!!”
ESPN’s “First Take” was scheduled to begin only a few hours later, and the questions hanging over Madison Square Garden’s postgame chatter were now simple: how Smith would respond—and whether the feud would stay inside the sports world or push deeper into politics.
Donald Trump Stephen A. Smith Truth Social ESPN First Take NBA Finals Madison Square Garden Knicks Spurs political debate Joe Biden traffic security protocols