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Stephen A. Smith says he isn't worried about racism hurting chances if he runs for White House

7 5
18.02.2026

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Stephen A. Smith says he isn’t worried about racism hurting chances if he runs for White House

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith said Sunday he is not worried about racism affecting a White House run if he chooses to throw his hat in the 2028 presidential contest.

“I know it [racism] exists. I know that you can’t escape it, but I do not believe it is as prevalent as some on the left would like us to believe,” the host of SiriusXM’s “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” said during an interview on CBS News “Sunday Morning.” 

“I do believe a vast majority of Americans judge you on the content of your individual character, rather than the color of your skin,” he added. 

Instead, he suggested most voters are looking for a president who simply cares about their problems and is seen as wanting to help.

“It’s about the fact they don’t give a damn about it, because they got their own problems,” Smith said of how race is considered by voters. “That’s entirely different than believing they are superior to you and want to hold you back from ascending. That’s not what’s going on to the degree it was decades ago.”

Smith previously told The Hill that he wants to have a “profound impact on who the next president is going to be.” But he had also said that he loves what he does and is not willing to give up his money. Yet, he told The Hill in November, he isn’t ruling out running for president.

Smith reiterated on CBS News “Sunday Morning” that Americans now more than ever do not place race as a factor in the presidential candidate. “I think a lot of people in America, especially in this day and age, now more so than ever before, it’s not about race.”

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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