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Stephen A. Smith appeared on CNN's State of the Union Sunday to address his ongoing public feud with President Trump — and managed to both defend and criticize the president in the same breath.
The feud began last week when Smith publicly accused Trump of falling asleep during Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden — a game the Knicks lost 115-111. Trump responded on Truth Social, attacking Smith's intelligence and calling him an "arrogant fool." Smith fired back, challenging the president to a televised debate and asking on air: "Didn't you call out former President Joe Biden, 'Sleepy Joe'? Well, what should we call you? Because you weren't awake."
On Sunday (June 14), host Kasie Hunt pressed Smith on whether he believes Trump is "sharp" enough to serve as commander-in-chief. Smith's answer was pointed. "I don't know anybody that would associate the word 'sharp' with him, because he doesn't seem that sharp with some of the decisions that he makes sometimes, to be quite honest with you," Smith said. "But I'm not here to denigrate or insult the president of the United States in that regard."
Smith then drew a comparison to former President Biden, saying Trump is "certainly an upgrade from what we were seeing from Joe Biden in terms of his alertness and what have you."
But he stood firmly by his original observation. "What I would say, however, is that he showed up to a Knicks game, and he was caught on camera. This isn't me saying it — you saw it on camera. He was caught napping, OK? And the owner of the New York Knicks, James Dolan, was sitting right next to him and he didn't look awake either. And so that's it. Just pointing it out."
Smith also doubled down on his debate challenge. "If you really, really want to be serious about questioning somebody's I.Q., put me at the same table as you and we could have a discussion in front of the masses about some decisions that you have made on behalf, supposedly, of the American people. And we will see where my I.Q. lands then."
As for the Knicks, they had the last laugh. The team went on to win their first NBA championship in 53 years Saturday night.
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