Sports commentator, Stephen A. Smith has challenged President Donald Trump to a debate after the president questioned his intelligence during a recent media exchange.
Smith made the remarks during an appearance on Laura Coates Live on CNN, where host Laura Coates asked him about Trump’s repeated comments regarding his IQ.
The exchange comes after Trump faced criticism for attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals, where he was loudly booed by fans during the national anthem. The New York Knicks also lost the game 115-111 to the San Antonio Spurs, ending a 13-game winning streak, and some critics jokingly blamed the president’s presence for the defeat.
Smith was among the most vocal critics of Trump following the game, and the two have since traded insults publicly. Trump reportedly dismissed Smith’s commentary by attacking his intelligence and suggesting he lacked the IQ to challenge him politically.
Responding on CNN, Smith said Trump frequently resorts to questioning people’s intelligence when he has no strong rebuttal.
“He questioned it about everybody, from Maxine Waters to Hakeem Jeffries to the Megyn Kellys of the world, the Tucker Carlsons of the world. It isn’t just Black folks, it’s white folks, too. I get it. I understand it. It’s his default position when he really has no comeback,” Smith said.
Smith then directly challenged the president to face him in a public debate.
“If he really, really wants to get down to the nitty gritty and really want to challenge me about my I.Q., I welcome a sit down with him, I welcome him on the debate stage,” he said.
The ESPN and SiriusXM personality went further, daring Trump to arrange a debate while allowing him to keep his broadcasting roles.
“I will be happy to show up against President Trump. Since you think that my I.Q. is questionable, you want to find out? Want some? Come get some! I’ll show up,” Smith declared.
Coates jokingly replied that she would be the only suitable moderator for such a debate, to which Smith responded enthusiastically, “Here we go.”
The fiery exchange adds another chapter to the ongoing public feud between the outspoken sports analyst and the former president.