Stephen A. Smith Turns the Tables on Donald Trump, Hitting Him Where It Hurts After the President Tried to Insult His Intelligence
‘The brother wasn’t awake!’
Stephen A. Smith just fired back at Donald Trump after the president questioned his intelligence, and it’s safe to say the ESPN host went off. The latest clash between the two Knicks superfans escalated after Trump attended Game 3 of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, where he was booed and even appeared to doze off during the game.
Smith didn’t miss the opportunity to hit Trump where it hurts – his ego, his energy, and his beloved Knicks. Trump’s appearance at the game didn’t just draw boos from the crowd, it also sparked criticism from Smith, who called the president “selfish and narcissistic” for causing massive disruptions across Manhattan.
The president responded by questioning Smith’s IQ. According to The Daily Mail, he said, “I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I’m not sure Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.” That comment clearly struck a nerve.
Smith came out swinging the next day
On the June 9, 2026, episode of First Take, Smith didn’t just defend his intelligence – he turned the tables on Trump in a way that only he can. “It’s clear you need your rest, isn’t it?” Smith said, taking a direct shot at the president’s apparent nap during the game.
“The New York Knicks need it too. Give New Yorkers a break. Stay at the White House, go to Mar-a-Lago, go to Bedminster, do whatever it is you have to do. Just stay the hell away from the New York Knicks for the rest of this series.” If that wasn’t enough, Smith also mocked Trump for allegedly falling asleep, asking, “Didn’t you call our former president Joe Biden ‘Sleepy Joe?’ Well, what should we call you?”
Smith’s response wasn’t just about the nap, though. He also called out Trump for the chaos his visit caused, pointing out how the president’s security detail shut down entire blocks around Madison Square Garden, disrupting businesses and fans alike. “I thought you were about the economy? I thought you were about helping New Yorkers because you love New York?”
Smith said. “We know you’ve made a lot of money. We know you keep making money. But have the New York Knicks benefitted? The answer to that happened to be no.” He even suggested that Trump’s presence threw off the team’s mojo, joking that the Knicks’ 115-111 loss to the Spurs was somehow the president’s fault.
Smith then responded to the IQ dig
Smith, a native New Yorker and die-hard Knicks fan, was not going to let Trump’s low IQ comments slide. “You wanna talk about IQ? I could put my IQ against yours any day of the week,” he fired back. According to Us Weekly, he added, “I got something even better. I could ask you why you’ve been running from me for the past year since I asked you to talk to me. I could ask you to debate me since you think you’re that dude.”
Smith’s argument that Trump’s presence at the game was a distraction isn’t entirely baseless, either. Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox mentioned before Game 3 that the president’s visit made things inconvenient for both players and fans. “I think the president being here just makes it inconvenient on everybody else,” Fox said.
“We got, obviously, more security. We gotta, like, send stuff early. I think our buses are a little earlier. We’re getting screened like it’s TSA. It’s a little inconvenient for the people that’s got to play, but it is what it is.” While there’s no real evidence that Trump’s attendance affected the game’s outcome, the disruptions were real, and Smith wasn’t about to let the president off the hook for it.
The Knicks and Spurs will face off again in Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Wednesday, June 10, and if Smith has his way, Trump won’t be anywhere near Madison Square Garden. Whether the president takes that advice remains to be seen.
Fans are wondering what kind of impact Trump’s presence will have on the rest of the series
If Game 3 was any indication, the team might be better off without the extra “support” from the president. The Knicks’ playoff run has been historic, but with Trump in the mix, it’s also become a sideshow. Smith’s criticism of the president’s attendance isn’t just about the game, it’s about the principle.
If Trump really cared about New York, Smith argues, he wouldn’t have disrupted the city just to make an appearance. The president’s response, questioning Smith’s intelligence, only added fuel to the fire, and now the two are locked in a battle that’s as much about ego as it is about basketball.
As the NBA Finals continue, all eyes will be on the court, but don’t be surprised if the real drama unfolds off it. Smith has made it clear he’s not afraid to take on the president, and if Trump keeps pushing, he might just regret it. After all, when Stephen A. Smith comes for you, he doesn’t just come for your game – he comes for your reputation, your pride, and, apparently, your nap schedule.
(Featured image: Moody College of Communication)
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