The Knicks and Spurs' meeting in the NBA Finals has brought about plenty of luminaries. On Tuesday, another two stepped into the spotlight: Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith.
As two of New York's highest-profile supporters, perhaps it's unsurprising to see the two linked. They have been on a collision course for some time, with the latter suggesting that he could make a run for the former's seat in a future election.
Trump and Smith have waged a war of words in recent days, one that burst into the public sphere following New York's 115-111 loss to San Antonio in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
With that, here's a look at the Trump and Smith's feud, one of the hottest conflicts in recent sports history.
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Donald Trump-Stephen A. Smith beef, explained
Trump and Smith locked horns following the Knicks' Game 3 loss. The latter was the first to strike, taking aim at Trump ahead of the game. While appearing on "First Take" on Monday morning, Smith vowed to blame Trump for New York's defeat if it were to fall at the hands of San Antonio on Monday night.
"This president has no business showing up in New York City," Smith said. "I am dead serious. It is selfish. It is narcissistic. It is ridiculous that he is coming to this game.
"If it causes the New York Knicks to lose tonight, I'm blaming him. I'm blaming the president of the United States. And damn it, I hope the GOP loses votes because of it if we lose tonight."
Following the game, Trump was asked about Smith's pregame comments. He fired back with venom.
"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 Stephen has that. I don't think he does, actually."
Reporter: Stephen A. Smith said he would blame you if the Knicks lost tonight how do you respond
Donald Trump: I think he's a nice guy but you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ, I don't really think Stephen A Smith has that
LLLMMFFAAOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/8nodMdflUh
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 9, 2026
Predictably, Smith took to "First Take" to response, delivering an address of sorts directed at the Commander-in-Chief. He had his say about Trump's intelligence. He also launched a tirade on Trump's stated aims, unloading on the president in a three-minute clip that immediately went viral.
"I thought you were about the economy, I thought you were about helping New Yorkers because you love New York, I thought you were about making money for people," Smith said. "What happened to the parking garages, how much money did they make? What happened to the local restaurants in the immediate vicinity of Madison Square Garden, how much did they make?"
MORE:Watch Madison Square Garden's reaction to Donald Trump introduction
Why did Stephen A. Smith blame Donald Trump for Knicks loss?
Smith explained that the spectacle of Trump's appearance helped bring about the Knicks' demise on Monday night. He argued that New York didn't benefit from his presence, a cardinal sin for a so-called Knicks supporter.
Stephen A Smith responds to Donald Trump calling him a low IQ individual on First Take:
“You wanna talk about IQ, I could say I could put my IQ against yours, I got something even better I could ask you why you been running from me for the past year since I asked you to talk to… https://t.co/iI1DpLjkRb pic.twitter.com/Edon6R1fzF
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) June 9, 2026
"Brunson played better when you weren't there, Mikal Bridges played better when you weren't there, Karl-Anthony Towns played better when you weren't there, Landry Shamet played better when you weren't there," Smith said. "The crowd was festive, hyped and more intimidating when you weren't there.
"Businesses were thriving before you showed up. Parking garages were fed before you showed up. There was noise reverberating off the walls of Madison Square Garden before you showed up. And this is what you've done."
MORE:Why De'Aaron Fox called Donald Trump's Game 3 attendance "inconvenient"
What did Donald Trump say about Stephen. A Smith?
Trump bashed Smith's intelligence, claiming that, although the ESPN personality is a "nice guy", he doesn't have the aptitude to be president — an office Smith has pondered running for in recent years.
"You need a high IQ, I'm not sure Stephen has that," Trump told reporters after Game 3. "I don't think he does, actually."
MORE:How Donald Trump's decision to attend the NBA Finals forced New York to relocate a Knicks watch party
What did Stephen A. Smith say about Donald Trump?
Smith claimed, among other things, that Trump's desire to appear at Monday's game was an affront to his status as a so-called New York supporter. The ESPN analyst argued that Trump wrested attention away from the stage of the Finals, helping forge the conditions for San Antonio's defeat.
"I thought you were a New Yorker, Mr. President," Smith said. "I thought it mattered to you. Gotham City, the New York Knicks, the erasing of a 53-year drought. Evidently it didn't."
Smith also claimed that Trump fell asleep during Monday's game, citing videos that made the rounds on social media.
"The brother wasn't awake," Smith said. "If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn't you call former President Joe Biden 'Sleepy Joe'? Well, what should we call you?"
Will Stephen A. Smith run for political office?
Smith has not yet announced a formal bid to run for political office. He has addressed the idea of doing so in recent months, suggesting he could be open to doing it.
In August 2025, Smith appeared on HBO's "Real Time With Bill Maher" and discussed the possibility of a presidential campaign, saying, "I can't imagine myself doing it, but I haven't ruled it out, because I'm disgusted with what I'm seeing on the left."
Smith's August comments came with a different tone from statements made in the spring of 2025.
In April 2025, Smith told ABC News he had "no choice" to consider running for president, because "I've had elected officials, and I'm not going to give their names, elected officials coming up to me. I've had folks who are pundits come up to me. I've had folks that got a lot of money, billionaires and others that have talked to me about exploratory committees and things of that nature."
While Smith said he "never had a desire to be a politician," he added that he would "leave the door open for any possibilities some two-three years down the line." That same month, he also posted this: "Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess."
One month later, Smith told Deadline he has "no intentions" of making a presidential run, adding that "I’m leaving my options open, but in the same breath, I have no desire to be a politician at all."
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