{"id":2654059,"date":"2026-09-03T11:23:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-a-smith-rejects-2028-run-for-fear-of-being-taken-off-the-air\/"},"modified":"2026-09-03T11:24:44","modified_gmt":"2026-09-03T15:24:44","slug":"stephen-a-smith-rejects-2028-run-for-fear-of-being-taken-off-the-air","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/stephen-a-smith-rejects-2028-run-for-fear-of-being-taken-off-the-air\/","title":{"rendered":"Stephen A. Smith rejects 2028 run for fear of being &#8216;taken off the air&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/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-rejects-2028-run-for-fear-of-being-taken-off-the-air%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=2654059&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>Radio host Stephen A. Smith has announced he will not run for U.S. president in 2028, citing concerns that pursuing a campaign could jeopardize his career by being taken off the air due to broadcasting regulations and FCC rules. Despite considering a presidential bid previously and believing he could win, Smith prefers to focus on his media career and has no interest in sacrificing it for politics. He clarified that he isn\u2019t aiming for the White House and criticized the idea of running, emphasizing that his current profession keeps him committed. Smith also discussed potential Democratic candidates, highlighting Gov.Josh Shapiro as a strong contender and expressing skepticism about Wes Moore&#8217;s electability due to Black voter dynamics. On the Republican side,he views Marco Rubio as a more authentic candidate than JD Vance. Additionally, Smith dismissed the possibility of Tucker Carlson running for president, citing his far-right stance. Smith remains politically interested but is prioritizing his media career over a presidential run in 2028.  <\/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<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Radio host <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/stephen-a-smith\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"10345\">Stephen A. Smith<\/a> said he is not running for president in 2028 because he\u2019s concerned that he would be \u201ctaken off the air.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the past year, Smith has been floated as a potential Democratic presidential candidate who could potentially challenge other contenders deeply embedded within the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"288\">Democratic Party<\/a>, like former Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kamala-harris\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"748\">Kamala Harris<\/a>. He previously entertained the idea of running for president until now.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4711453\/stephen-smith-reject-2028-run-job\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Stephen A. Smith rejects 2028 run for fear of being \u2018taken off the air\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4710565\/salena-zito-butler-begin-filming-month-revisiting-day-trauma-loss\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Salena Zito\u2019s Butler to begin filming this month, revisiting a day of trauma and loss<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4709941\/elliot-page-tricky-land-roles-odyssey\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Landing roles has been \u2018tricky\u2019 for transgender actor despite recent success in The Odyssey<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Speaking with <em>Politico<\/em> reporter Dasha Burns on her podcast, Smith rejected any speculation that he has his eyes set on the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"8767\">White House<\/a>. He cited his radio career as the main reason why he wants to stay out of national politics.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was informed that by virtue of what I do for a living that the minute I announce that I\u2019m running, I would be taken off the air,\u201d the ESPN sports commentator and Sirius XM Radio personality said in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vQf_qcmBWbE?list=PLmA1aGCKyNMPIcuaVHu_DmPK24Lbc0Xn7\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/vQf_qcmBWbE?list=PLmA1aGCKyNMPIcuaVHu_DmPK24Lbc0Xn7\">new episode<\/a> of <em>The Conversation<\/em> released Thursday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith said the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-communications-commission\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1637\">Federal Communications Commission\u2019s<\/a> equal-time rule would prevent him from running for office unless he gave up his job, which he has no interest in doing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI wouldn\u2019t be able to work, and I would lose a contract that I\u2019ve worked my entire career for, you know, and I\u2019m not giving that up,\u201d the radio host said. \u201cSo my quality of life would be drastically compromised.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cBut if there was a way that I could continue my career while still campaigning, I wouldn\u2019t hesitate to campaign,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an ideal world, Smith said he would jump on the debate stage \u201cin a heartbeat\u201d to debate \u201cthese wannabe politicians who have done or have tried to do the damage that I believe has been drastically inflicted upon this country.\u201d However, his heart rests with his career.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is the clearest indication that Smith will not run for president in two years. Still, the celebrity believes he could win the presidency if he decided to run.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Smith\u2019s case for hypothetically winning the presidency harkens back to President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump\u2019s<\/a> first presidential campaign in 2016, when he was widely known as a real estate developer, billionaire, and reality television host.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While the radio host has been critical of the Republican administration, Smith gave Trump credit for recognizing that \u201cmost voters believe our politics and our politicians are full of s***.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe speaks a language that the electorate, no matter who they are or what side of the aisle they are on, can relate to, even if they despise him,\u201d the ESPN talent said.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that he has ruled out running in 2028, Smith named Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-shapiro\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"5122\">Josh Shapiro<\/a> (D-PA) as a serious contender for the Democratic Party\u2019s presidential primary. He noted Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/wes-moore\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3000\">Wes Moore<\/a> (D-MD) would have trouble getting elected to the presidency because a black man already sat in the White House for two terms, referring to former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"360\">Barack Obama<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the opposite side of the political aisle, Smith argued Secretary of State <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/marco-rubio\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"51\">Marco Rubio<\/a> is a much stronger candidate than Vice President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7658\">JD Va<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7658\">n<\/a><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jd-vance\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"7658\">ce<\/a> because the former is an \u201cauthentic individual.\u201d Smith said Vance \u201ctries to be too like Trump,\u201d which could be to the vice president\u2019s detriment in 2028.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/presidential\/4711297\/mamdani-sign-petition-aoc-president-2028\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4711297\">MAMDANI SIGNED PETITION MARKING AOC AS \u2018MOST VIABLE\u2019 2028 PRESIDENTIAL PICK<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Smith is not taking a potential presidential bid from former Fox News host <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tucker-carlson\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2481\">Tucker Carlson<\/a> seriously.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Asked by Burns if he thinks Carlson should run, Smith responded: \u201cHell no. I don\u2019t think Tucker should run because I think that Tucker is an individual that leans a bit too far right for my liking.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Smith rules out 2028 run to keep his radio career<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2654060,"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\/2026\/09\/AP26036010874743.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[7142,4188,3847],"class_list":["post-2654059","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-basketball","tag-media","tag-sports"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26036010874743.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654059","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\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2654059"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2654062,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2654059\/revisions\/2654062"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2654060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2654059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2654059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2654059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}