In the wake of the 2024 presidential election, ESPN host Stephen A. Smith shared his frustrations with the Democratic Party.
“I voted Democrat, and I got to tell you something right now, I don’t like the fact that I did. I don’t like what I’m seeing,” Smith admitted on “Life, Liberty & Levin” Saturday night.
Since President-elect Trump’s victory, Democrats have scrambled to place blame for Vice President Harris’ loss. Fingers have been pointed at Harris herself and President Biden, whose poor approval ratings and failed campaign have been under fire.
Criticism of Biden has escalated as his term winds down, especially over his controversial decision to pardon his son, Hunter.
“I don’t want to hear about, ‘Oh we’re about the law. Nobody’s above the law.’ But then you go out, and you pardon your son, and you try to blame everybody else for it,” Smith said to host Mark Levin.
On Dec. 1, Biden issued a sweeping pardon for Hunter despite previously vowing not to do so if his son were convicted. The move drew widespread backlash.
Smith’s dissatisfaction with the Democrats isn’t limited to the pardon. He echoed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, calling out the party’s platform and policy directions.
“I don’t want to hear about defund the police. I don’t want to hear about open borders. I don’t want to hear this stuff. And I don’t think most of the American people want to hear that,” Smith said bluntly.
Sen. Sanders blamed the party for abandoning the working class, a sentiment Smith seemed to agree with. Sanders argued, “It should come as no great surprise that a Democratic Party which has abandoned working-class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.”
Smith also expressed frustration with fear-based political messaging. “I’m no longer interested in listening to a bunch of fearmongering to tell us who we shouldn’t vote for,” he said. “Why don’t you come up with a plan that tells us why we should vote for you?”
He added, “Being about America and prioritizing what’s going on in this nation… that is not a crime for an American politician.” Smith indicated openness to Republican candidates, provided they focused on policy solutions for the American people.
Though Smith acknowledged he could “quite possibly” see himself voting for Trump, he said the president-elect still had much to prove.
“My concern with Donald Trump was that he would be divisive, creating chaos because of his demand for loyalty and fealty to him over governing the nation,” he explained.
Smith emphasized that leadership must focus on “getting the job done” for the American people. “If Trump can show he’s the adult in the room, I don’t think anyone could dismiss him at this moment in time,” he concluded.