{"id":2573736,"date":"2026-02-25T21:35:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-26T02:35:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-a-smith-says-trump-played-dems-like-a-fiddle-at-sotu\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T21:36:21","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T02:36:21","slug":"stephen-a-smith-says-trump-played-dems-like-a-fiddle-at-sotu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-a-smith-says-trump-played-dems-like-a-fiddle-at-sotu\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen A. Smith says Trump played Dems &#8216;like a fiddle&#8217; at SOTU"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fstephen-a-smith-says-trump-played-dems-like-a-fiddle-at-sotu%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573736&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An ESPN analyst, Stephen A. Smith, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/susan-sarandon-rips-democrats-for-failure-on-stimulus-warns-of-2022-collapse\/\" title=\"Susan Sarandon Rips ... For Failure On Stimulus, Warns Of 2022 Collapse\">criticized democrats<\/a> for their behavior during Donald Trump\u2019s State of the Union, saying Trump \u201cplayed them like a fiddle\u201d and that they fell for his bait. On his SiriusXM Politics of the United States show, he condemned Democrats\u2019 heckling and exits, arguing Trump\u2019s framing\u2014asking the audience to stand for \u201cAmericans\u201d over \u201cillegal immigrants\u201d\u2014was a strategic move that highlighted what he sees as the Democrats\u2019 missteps and losses in 2024. Smith warned that Democrats are failing by reacting to the president\u2019s words rather of exploiting his policy setbacks in areas like the Supreme Court, tariffs, and deportations, urging them not to keep falling for the same tactics. He also noted he had previously teased a 2028 Democratic run but now thinks it would be unwise, describing himself as fiscally conservative and saying, despite often aligning with Democrats, he has at times viewed Trump\u2019s leadership more favorably then the party, which he argues currently lacks a clear leader.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Stephen A. Smith says Trump played Democrats &lsquo;like a fiddle&rsquo; after State of the Union<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2516286\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/espn\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"669\">ESPN<\/a> personality <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/stephen-a-smith\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"10345\">Stephen A. Smith<\/a> sharply rebuked <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats&rsquo;<\/a> behavior during President<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\"> Donald Trump&rsquo;s<\/a> State of the Union address and said they fell for Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;bait.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>During his <em><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.siriusxm.com\/player\/channel-linear\/entity\/43993462-1c73-efb8-29e5-0c4652cf8e4f?utm_medium=shared\">Politics of the United States<\/a><\/em>  show on SiriusXM, Smith ranted about Trump&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/state-of-the-union\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"658\">address<\/a> to a joint session of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/congress\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"31\">Congress<\/a> and pointed part of his outrage at Democrats&rsquo; heckling and abrupt exits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4472230\/jeremy-swayman-team-should-have-handled-trump-joke-better\/\">Hockey gold medalist says team should&rsquo;ve handled Trump&#8217;s joke better<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4471703\/critics-olympians-state-of-the-union-wrong-joe-concha\/\">Critics of Olympians at State of the Union are &#8216;whole bowl of wrong&#8217;: Joe Concha<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/4471487\/trump-promise-financial-relief-face-history-midterms-byron-york\/\">Trump&#8217;s promise of financial relief must face &#8216;history&#8217; of midterms: Byron York<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Where it really took a turn for the worse, as far as I&rsquo;m concerned, was when Trump played the Democrats, pulled the okie doke on them, played them like a fiddle, and the Democrats fell for it hook, line, and sinker,&rdquo; Smith said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Smith also discussed how Democrats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hunter-biden-defector-emails-pipeline-to-obama-admin-seen-as-currency\/\" title=\"Hunter Biden Defector Emails: ...Pipeline... to Obama Admin Seen as ...Currency...\">didn&#038;rsquo<\/a>;t stand up when Trump prompted the audience to stand if they supported Americans over <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illegal-immigrants\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1972\">illegal immigrants<\/a> and said it was a strategic move by the president because he &ldquo;knew the optics.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;He didn&rsquo;t say white Americans or black Americans. He said Americans, meaning that no matter what. &hellip; The fact that he said American before everyone else is a reminder of what lost them the election in 2024,&rdquo; Smith said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The defiance by Democrats, Smith said, shows voters why the party is not able to accomplish much, citing Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ilhan-omar\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1223\">Ilhan Omar<\/a> (D-MN) shouting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog-posts\/tlaib-omar-yell-trump-killing-american-citizens\/\" type=\"live-blog-posts\" id=\"4470772\">insults at the president <\/a>during the event.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Why in God&rsquo;s name should any Democratic voter out there believe for one second that these politicians who represent folks on the Left are going to be able to get anything done,&rdquo; Smith asked.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>In his fierce criticism, Smith also ripped Trump, calling him &ldquo;blind economically,&rdquo; but said the greater failure is on the Left. He said Democrats are too busy responding to the <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >president&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s words rather than capitalizing on his losses in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/supreme-court\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"203\">Supreme Court<\/a>, citing rulings on tariffs and deportations.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We&rsquo;re seeing time and time &hellip; again, stop falling for the bait. You&rsquo;re playing right into his hands,&rdquo; Smith said. &ldquo;[Democrats] are not giving us enough to support because you keep falling for the same old same old every <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cnn-ripped-for-bizarre-distortion-of-clarence-thomas-dissent-in-pa-election-case\/\" title=\"CNN Ripped For \u2018Bizarre Distortion\u2019 Of Clarence Thomas Dissent In PA Election Case\">single time<\/a>.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The sports pundit has <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/news\/politics\/2026\/02\/13\/stephen-a-smith-considers-presidential-run\/88664479007\/\">teased a 2028 Democratic presidential run<\/a> in the past, but after the events at the State of the Union, he said the choice would not be wise, as he would &ldquo;be cussing people out left and right.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4470556\/these-people-are-crazy-six-takeaways-from-trumps-state-of-the-union\/\"><strong>&lsquo;THESE PEOPLE ARE CRAZY&rsquo;: SIX TAKEAWAYS FROM TRUMP&rsquo;S STATE OF THE UNION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Last year, Trump said he would &ldquo;love&rdquo; to see Smith run, saying he has &ldquo;great entertainment skills.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Although he has been critical, Smith has said he typically aligns with Democrats but is fiscally conservative. He&rsquo;s had a positive view of Trump&rsquo;s leadership in comparison to Democrats, who he says have no leader.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smith: Dems fell for Trump&#8217;s bait after SOTU<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2573737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stehpen-A-Smith-on-Biden-coverup-scaled-e1772069988852.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[3685,69388,73673,74600,3634],"class_list":["post-2573736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-democrats","tag-political-commentary-2","tag-state-of-the-union-2","tag-stephen-a-smith-2","tag-trump"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Stehpen-A-Smith-on-Biden-coverup-scaled-e1772069988852.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573736"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573736\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573740,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573736\/revisions\/2573740"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}