ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith Rips Sean Hannity In Interview About Harris-Trump Race

In a blistering appearance on Fox News’ Hannity on Thursday night, ESPN host Stephen A. Smith shut down comments from Sean Hannity regarding Kamala Harris’ role in the Biden administration and shifts she’s made on issues as a candidate while wholeheartedly announcing that he will never vote for Donald Trump.

The contentious appearance from the longtime sports broadcaster was prefaced with Hannity telling his audience that he and Smith are old friends. Smith said that he disagrees with the conservative host “75 percent of the time” and added, addressing Hannity, “I feel bad for you half the time with some of the takes you give,” before the two shifted to discussing Harris. Hannity said that because she is unable to defend past statements from years past, she’s struggling and “tied up as a pretzel” because as a candidate, she can no longer discuss her previous stances on issues. 

Smith took exception to all of this.

“The bottom line is this: as vice president of the United States, it wasn’t her job to lead. She has to go along with the program. You are a support base. You support the person that is in charge, who happens to be Joe Biden,” Smith explained. “That’s number one. Number two, I know you’re not talking about someone being lucid and cogent and enunciating their thoughts with clarity and you’re bragging about Donald Trump. We can’t be watching the same stuff if that’s what you’re doing!”

Trump has come under fire for drifting off topic recently at rallies and making some wild and strange statements that have led to audiences leaving the events early. His speeches have also been defined by their tangentiality as he drifts from one topic to another in a freeform manner.

When Hannity brought up Harris’ supposed dishonesty around Biden’s mental state, Smith said that the president’s mental slip was something he had noticed a year ago. But he made the point that it’s naive to believe that in politics, there’s any world where Harris would point out the president’s health issues publicly. 

“A year earlier, I was saying this slippage, there’s something that ain’t there. He ain’t gonna make it to the election. Y’all better get with the program, do something about it,” Smith recalled. “I was on the record about Joe Biden, but I’m not a part of the Biden administration, and if I was a part of the Biden administration, I wouldn’t have told you that. 

“That’s number one. Number two, she’s the candidate. Now you have to run against them…what she’s doing now is saying, ‘Excuse me, I’m open to compromise, I’m willing to work across the aisle, I’m willing to listen and make things happen.’

Smith then said that many who plan to vote for Trump believe that, as a man who came from the business and entertainment industries, he will change Washington.

“The question is, will it be for better, or will it be for worse?,” Smith asked. “The cesspool that we look at as the nation’s capital, if you got him back in office and he’s on a revenge tour and he’s not focused on doing what it takes to lead the country, where will that lead the country? You’re not bringing that part up.” 

Hannity concluded the interview by making a prediction that Smith will decide in the booth on Nov. 5 to vote for Trump. Smith’s reaction was strong. 

“No!,” he spat back at Hannity. “And I told you on the record: I’d have voted for any Republican but him. Nicki Haley, Chris Christie … but not him!”