ESPN Analyst Disagrees With Stephen A. Smith About Donald Trump

25/04/2024 03:46

Stephen A. Smith's comments about former President Donald Trump caused some controversy, and one of his ESPN colleagues is disagreeing with his take.

Smith defended the former president, saying that he was right to consider his new support among Black Americans as a positive in advance of the 2024 election.

"He's hearing that Black folks find him relatable because of what he is going through is similar to what Black Americans have gone through, he wasn't lying! He was telling the truth," Smith said in an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity."

Smith has apologized for his comments, but ESPN NFL analyst Ryan Clark explained why he disagreed with what Smith had to say on an episode of his podcast, "The Pivot."

"I respect Stephen A. and the platform that he's built, but I respectively disagree with him here," Clark began.

"First off, let's talk about the simple statement that Black people can relate to former president Donald Trump based on discrimination by the judicial system. 

He's not being discriminated against.

What Donald Trump did was make bad decisions. And because of those bad decisions, he's now been investigated; he's now been accused, alleged, and then now prosecuted."

Clark then went on to explain how, in his opinion, Trump's legal issues while being the President would not have been tolerated if he were Black.

"The one thing that Black people can't relate to is having these run-ins with the law and being the President of the United States of America," Clark said.

We couldn't be the president of the 4-H club if we had this many run-ins with the law. We couldn't be the president of our own HOA. Also, when you agree with this, you're allowing him to break us down to the lowest common denominator."

Clark then clarified that the support for Trump among the Black community is not consistent with "an affinity for those who break the law."

It seems that Clark's issue with Smith's comments aren't about what he said, they're more about what they represent.

"As the support seems to grow for him in certain Black communities, we have to be smart about why that support is growing," said the former Pittsburgh Steeler.