Stephen A. Smith 'shocked' after Trump's remark about Obama

So you said going into the midterms. put you on the ballot? I did. So how can it not be that? Well, they didn't do it. They didn't put me on the ballot. The people didn't. believe in the candidates. Perhaps. President Trump making the round. at the shellacking at the midterms. And he's still sounding. defiant that the election. was not a referendum. on his policies or his popularity. I mean, listen to what. Trump said. when Stephen Smith asked him. about a hypothetical matchup between him. and former President Barack Obama.

I got many more votes than he got, and I got many more votes in the States. And I have all the state, you know, most of the state. records of the big states. If you take a look at Texas, I have the all time record. Florida, have the all time record. Are you saying you would beat Obama? Yeah, I think I would beat him easily. Yeah, easily. I think he's highly overrated. I want to bring in the host. for his take on ESPN and straight. shooter on Sirius XM. Stephen Smith,

can we just go right there for a second? At President Trump. saying that President Barack. Obama is highly overrated. You got to tell me your reaction to that. Well, I was. I was shocked that he went that far. I wasn't shocked that. he said he think he beat him, but I was shocked. that he would be so dismissive. and disrespectful. Barack Obama, I certainly don't think. that would happen, to be quite honest with you. But, you know, it's one of those things. when you talk to President Trump, which obviously I have over. the last few weeks, he's just dogged in.

his belief in himself, as always, but also, in his discuss with liberals. and his mentality. is that the Democratic Party. is ruining the country. And so his his thought is. Obama is on the left, and he would have to capitulate. to those folks on the left. It wouldn't be the other way around. And as a result, it would make it pretty easy. for me. to beat him, because all I have to do. is point to all the crazy things, the crazy left is doing, and that's all it would take. That's essentially that.

That's the essentially. the attitude of the president right now. himself going up against anybody. The problem with the midterms was, is that he thought that that mentality. could be relatable to all of the other. candidates that he was supporting, going against folks on the left. And obviously the American people. showed them otherwise. I mean, candidate quality, which he alludes to. at the end of that statement, I mean, has been a very big topic. in this midterm cycle. You asked the president. if he regretted. endorsing in the candidate to, I mean, carried.

a lot of baggage, including people like Ken Paxton in. Texas who lost to Talarico. Well, let's. you do too. Well, but I don't think. Conner would have done any better. A lot of them thought. if they get my endorsement, they don't have to debate. I think. getting the endorsement. with some hurt them. because they didn't hurt them. But they didn't work. as hard as they should have worked. I want to hear your take on that, because. is Trump taking any responsibility. for his role. in the loss of the GOP, saying,

okay, finito. Zero zero. And not only that, it's, you know, it appeared in the immediate. aftermath of the midterm results. that he and, you know, some, some contrition. had kicked in to some degree. and that he was taking the least. a little bit of responsibility. But that's not the individual. I spoke to this afternoon. The individual I spoke to this afternoon. happened to be the president. The United States. wasn't having any of it. It was all about them. It was therefore. he did what he was supposed to do. He told the American people. to put him on the ballot.

In his eyes, they did not do that. The candidates weren't that strong, and they didn't perform that admirably. But most importantly, they didn't put in the work. And in that regard, one could argue. that he had a good point, because we know how much he travels. all over this country, particularly when he was campaigning. long before he was the president. So we know the kind of work. that he put in that regard. My issue was, is that a guy like Ken Paxton. and I use the word punk, and I usually don't go that, you know, calling names. and all of that other stuff. But Laura, I just have this, this firm belief.

If you are an individual. seeking public office, the most insulting thing you can do to. the American. people. is ask for them to elect and select you. when you don't even want to show up. and debate the opposition. you want to hide. and but you still want to. You still want to claim public office. Wait a minute. It's public office. One of the primary responsibilities. you should be willing to do. is to be in public. and to put yourself on Front Street. and say, I'm here.

This is what I believe. This is what I stand on. Let's go. And Ken Paxton to me. was an utter disgrace. What even when you put it, putting in the work, even when he did go around. to campaign for these individuals, including Ken Paxton, where he was talking badly. about him, other candidates, he was, you know, completely. mesmerized by their body. He talked about things. that were not in line. with what. the American people seemed to have said. they wanted. when the midterm results came in. He wasn't talking. about the affordability issues.

He wasn't talking about the war. with Iran, which is what. his own vice. president pointed to. as one of the major issues. for the midterm losses. He was talking. about his architectural coups. He was talking about, the things that are happening. that relate only to him, only his legacy. Did he address any of those points. as to why. he had that divide. between what they were saying. they wanted to hear about. and what he was actually talking about? Well, listen again. His whole thing is.

that it was their fault, not his. Well, during that period of time, there was one moment. when Trump said. that black people. were the biggest beneficiary of his work, and he spent. more than five minutes. reading from a list of accomplishments. that was three pages long. Why are you two hear this? Did you see me try to interrupt? Yes. Listen to this. A record. one time investment of $438 million. to historically black colleges. and universities, thanks to President Trump's. the Trump Accounts Initiative, 100%.

of black newborn babies. now have exposure to the stock market. President Trump secured. a tax free 1776 warrior dividend, of which the black soldier. is a big percentage of our military. got $1,776 as a dividend. 1776 right. What went through your mind? I know you were trying to interrupt him. I mean, who wants to be read to you? But what went through your mind. when he was reading you? That list,

especially given. when you went to the dinner. at the white House with Bill Maher? With with, kid Rock, you talked about how. you were there in part. because you wanted to talk about. what this impact of his policies had been. on historically black. colleges and universities, on black federal employees, on women in particular as well. What was going through your mind? Yes. Well, listen, I mean, what was going through. my mind is. I just couldn't. believe the experience. that I was going through. at that particular moment in time. because we had had this discussion,

in the white House, obviously, I brought up over 300,000. black women losing their jobs. Obviously, he swears up and down. that they're excelling. and thriving in the private sector. I was like, where's the proof of that? Because they're telling me there's. no truth to that whatsoever. He denied that. And then I made an executive decision. while I was interviewing a lawyer. I obviously had other issues. that I wanted. to get into. even more about HBCUs, that I wanted to talk. But when he said, I've done a lot for black. folks, and I have the list right here,

I just said, you know what? I'm going to do something I never did. Go ahead and read that list, because I want to hear this. And I think every black person in America. wants to hear what you swear. you have done for black people. Because I wanted to. Now, obviously I didn't em. go all the way. because he had about 4 or 5 pages long. I only thought it was like two. And then he pulled out. and he had about 4 or 5 pages, and I said, no, I can't let em go on that long, because I got too many other questions.

that I want to ask. And there's a limited time. and, you know, they're going to come at you. when you're flowing and did. All right, he's got to go do. these reports in the United States. You know know what call can come in. that can stall the interview. But I really really wanted to ask. other questions, of course. It's just that when he said specifically, I've done a lot for black people, and I have the I have a list. I felt compelled on behalf. of the black community. to let him spew out some of those things. so we can hear everything. He swears he has done it.

But you know what? He also was prepared. because he asked you a question. very quickly. He asked you directly. if you were going to run for president, and you said you have made up your mind, but you said before, you're not running. Why did you tell him now? Or if there, I guess somewhere? No, because, because. because it's like this. I love my job, I love my life, etc. I just wanted to beat some of these folks. so badly. I really do, Laura. I just really, really do. And it's just a shame. that FCC regulations equal time rules.

don't allow for it. by virtue of what I do for a living. I was told that the minute. I announce I'm running, I will immediately be pulled off the air, which means I won't be allowed to work, which means I won't be allowed. to earn my money. And last time I checked, maybe not Trump, who's gone to $3 billion. since his return to the presidency, you know, in terms. of his own bank account. But most politicians on Capitol Hill. are looking for the kind of money.

that I have worked diligently. over the course of 30 years to earn, and I ain't trying to give that up. Well, you know, the best moderator in the world. would be Laura Koch. Stephen Smith. Nice talking to you, my friend. I know, that's right. Yeah, I know that's right. I know that's coming. As Republicans. tried to forge a path forward. after the midterm losses, there is this one more moment. we heard in this podcast with Stephen. Smith and Trump, and here it is. Are you saying you would beat Obama? Yeah, I think I'd beat him easily. Yeah, easily.

I think he's highly overrated. Old man yells at cloud. We all. I always ask people, who's the person that lives rent. free in your head? We all have one. I think we saw who everybody's got one. Yeah, one. We want to talk about it publicly. Have you connected? I have a list, bro. Rock Obama is still quite popular, as it turns out, right? He would work Donald Trump. like a summer job. Let's be very clear.

Also remember Obama, at least in 2008, won Indiana, North. Carolina, Virginia, which was not seen as such a big deal. You know, he managed to win. a lot of swing states that Ohio. Yeah. I wonder if this came up. because Bama was out on the trail. He was the closer in chief, in the split screen. between him and JD Vance. Not great for JD Vance in the end, given the numbers. And so, one thing. I do think Trump cares about. is his legacy. And he's very preoccupied with.

how is his legacy going to stand up. next to these other people. Yeah. And Obama's I think is still doing well. I think this is also just a facet of his. I mean, we could have picked. 20 different quotes from various places. in the last two weeks. where he's licking his wounds. about how the midterm really. wasn't a repudiation of him. Right. So this is part of that.