Stephen A. Smith is shutting down the talk of him running for president in 2028.
The ESPN star, who is making nearly $40 million a year and has been teasing a presidential run as a Democrat, said on the debut episode of Fox News Media’s “Hang Out with Sean Hannity” podcast that he won’t seek to become commander in chief because he doesn’t want to stop making money.
“2028’s coming pretty, pretty quick. If you had to pick — I think it’s all bulls–t. I don’t think you’re running, am I right?” Hannity asks Smith in a preview clip of the episode, which drops Tuesday.
“I don’t think I’m running either because I’ve got to give up my money,” Smith replied.
“Let me put the presidential aspirations to bed. If I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.”
Smith has been more open about his political views in recent years and now hosts a two-hour weekly political show called “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” on SiriusXM’s POTUS channel.
The 58-year-old said as recently as last month that he was mulling a presidential run, telling “CBS Sunday Morning” of running for the Democratic nomination, “I will confess to you, I’m giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027. I’ve got this year coming up 2026, to think about it, to study, to know the issues.”
It was always unlikely, however, that he’d actually follow through on running for office.
Smith makes $21 million a year from ESPN, where the omnipresent talking head is the face of the “First Take” morning debate show, and another $12 million a year from SiriusXM, according to a September report from The Athletic. Revenue from his YouTube channel and podcast puts his yearly earnings at close to $40 million, the report added.
Later in the interview with Hannity, Smith says the three people he’d vote for to be president in 2028 are Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shaprio and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
