Less than a year into his second term, President Donald Trump may already have someone in mind to carry the Republican torch in 2028—Stephen A. Smith.
During a NewsNation town hall earlier this month marking his first 100 days back in office, Trump spoke with Chris Cuomo, Bill O’Reilly, and Smith himself. While addressing questions on economic anxiety and tariffs, Trump was asked if he had any advice for Smith amid growing chatter about a potential presidential run.
“I love watching him. He’s got great entertainment skills, which is very important. People watch him,” said Trump. “I’ve been pretty good at picking people and picking candidates, and I will tell you, I’d love to see him run.”
That comment lit a spark, especially for conservative commentator Jason Whitlock, who believes Smith’s path to the presidency may already be scripted.
Speaking on Fearless with Jason Whitlock, he said:
“How long has he been running around, pretending that he and Sean Hannity are friends? How long has he been pretending he and Bill O’Reilly are friends? This has been in the plans for a long time.”
Whitlock went deeper, pointing to the powerful forces he says are backing Smith.
“He’s backed by Disney and Bob Iger. That’s as powerful an institution as there is in America. He’s backed by Endeavor, Ari Emanuel, Mark Shapiro. That’s as powerful an agency as there is in America.”
To Whitlock, Smith isn’t just a rising media figure—he’s a groomed candidate
“His handlers, his puppet masters, the people that are putting him into play—they are people that install presidents and install powerful people. They are the actual handlers.”
“He’s running as a Republican”: Whitlock predicts Donald Trump’s successor by 2028
Though the 2028 election is still years away, Whitlock is confident in his prediction.
“He’s running as a Republican. A year from today, he will announce that he’s changing political parties and he’s a Republican,” Whitlock said.
For now, Smith hasn’t confirmed or denied any political ambitions. But with Trump’s public endorsement and a growing media presence, the speculation isn’t going away anytime soon.
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