Back in June, President Donald Trump suggested that ESPN host Stephen A. Smith wasn’t smart enough to be president after Smith said he’d blame Trump if the New York Knicks lost Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Four months and one White House dinner later, Trump appears to be singing a very different tune.
After hosting Smith, Bill Maher, and Kid Rock for dinner on Thursday night, Trump described his guests as “smart people” and said that “Stephen A. is great,” a far cry from his previous comments about Smith’s intelligence.
‘You need a high IQ’
Trump and Smith’s relationship took a hit when the president attended Game 3 of the Knicks’ NBA Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden following an invitation from team owner James Dolan.
Smith was not happy about Trump deciding to attend the game, warning on First Take that he would hold the president responsible if things went poorly for the Knicks.
“If it causes the New York Knicks to lose tonight, I’m blaming him,” Smith said, via Awful Announcing. “I’m blaming the president of the United States! I’m gonna stay on that.”
Ultimately, the Knicks lost, marking their only loss of the NBA Finals and snapping a 13-game playoff winning streak. After the game, Trump was asked about Smith, who had been floating a potential presidential run, and he didn’t hold back.
“I think he’s a nice guy,” Trump said. “But you need a certain aptitude to run for president. You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does actually.”
‘Stephen A. is great’
While those were some pretty strong words from the president, it sounds like he has now changed his mind on the ESPN star.
Smith joined Maher and Kid Rock at the White House on Thursday night, and Trump raved about the evening while speaking to reporters on Friday, calling Smith “great” and “smart.”
“It was a great dinner, it was a very informative dinner. Smart people. Stephen A. is great,” Trump said, via the New York Post.
Trump also suggested that Smith and Maher actually like him, even if they pretend that they don’t “for their people.”
“Even though they have to sort of put on a certain little facade for their people, they like Trump, and I actually like them,” Trump said.
Smith, for his part, gave Trump some credit after the dinner, telling Sean Hannity that the president “didn’t duck any smoke whatsoever” and had an answer for nearly every issue raised.
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