Stephen A. Smith Faces Questions Over Kamala Harris Comments

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith faced questioning during a podcast on Wednesday. Hosts Cari Champion and Jemele Hill challenged Smith about his comments expressing regret for voting for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Smith suggested his regret stemmed from the idea that Democrats aimed to have Harris replace former President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential race.

Podcast Discussion

Cari Champion and Jemele Hill questioned Smith regarding his stance on Harris. Smith referred to an October 2024 episode of ABC’s ‘The View’, where Harris stated she wouldn’t do anything differently than Joe Biden. He criticized Harris’s response as a missed opportunity to demonstrate independent thinking. Smith highlighted Harris’s past roles, emphasizing her capability and intelligence.

Because when she went on ‘The View’ and she sat up there and said she couldn’t think of anything that she would do differently, something that Sunny Hostin threw up intentionally as a softball for her to knock out the park. I’m like, when she passed up on that opportunity, this is not a dumb woman. This is a former state attorney general. This is a former senator. This is a former vice president of the United States. She is not dumb. There’s only one reason she said that, because her loyalty to Joe Biden usurped everything else,” Smith said.

Hill proposed that Harris’s comments were meant to align with Biden’s accomplishments, discussing the strategic aspect of supporting Biden’s presidency.

Regret and Criticism

Smith clarified that his comments emerged post-election. Champion accused Smith of unfairly targeting Black women, questioning why he felt it necessary to voice regret.

Smith defended his stance by explaining his disappointment arose after Harris’s statements and the party’s direction. He questioned whether his critique could be seen as a simple disagreement rather than disrespect.

Can you concede that it’s a disagreement as opposed to a disparagement? Smith countered.

The dialogue also touched on Smith’s earlier interactions with Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Harris’s office did not comment on the exchange.

Media Analysis

Media Research Center’s Curtis Houck praised Smith’s honesty. Houck emphasized the importance of ideological diversity and accountability among commentators and journalists.

This level of refreshing honesty from Stephen A. Smith has sadly been in short supply for far too long,” said Houck. “Along with ideological diversity, more commentators and journalists should be willing to admit when they’re wrong or express regret.

Smith previously discussed his voting decision during an April interview with Sage Steele. He explained that he initially supported Harris due to her potential for compromise. Smith later criticized the Democratic Party’s lack of self-awareness after losing the election.

In a January 2025 interview with Bill Maher, Smith discussed feeling misled by Harris’s candidacy.