On Monday, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the New York Knicks in Game 3 of the NBA Finals. After the game, President Donald Trump and ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith had words for each other following the commander-in-chief’s decision to attend the contest. Two days later, both men are still going at each other on social media.
President Donald Trump Fires Latest Shot Back at Stephen A. Smith
After Game 3, Trump insulted Smith’s IQ and poured cold water on his political aspirations. Smith then responded on “First Take” on Tuesday, challenging Trump to a debate, saying he’d put his IQ up against Trump’s “any day of the week,” and calling out the president for falling asleep at the game.
“The brother wasn’t awake. If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep?” Smith said. “Didn’t you call our former President Joe Biden, ‘Sleepy Joe?’ Well, what should we call you?”
Smith also stated that Trump’s Game 3 appearance hurt New York’s local businesses and took the spotlight away from the game itself.
Now, one day later, Trump fired back at Smith on social media.
“Stephen A. Smith is an arrogant fool, a low IQ individual,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “In other words, he’s ‘dumb as a rock,’ and totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office, or even low political office, for that matter! He’d get annihilated in a debate by the most incompetent of politicians. Joe Biden’s now ‘fabled’ performance would look great by comparison … they’d laugh him out of politics!!!”
Trump: “Stephen A. Smith is an arrogant fool, a low IQ individual. In other words, he’s ‘dumb as a rock,’ and totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office, or even low political office, for that matter!” pic.twitter.com/lgMN8XwV70
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 10, 2026
Trump did not directly respond to Smith’s specific questions, instead just calling him out. The Knicks canceled the watch party outside the arena due to enhanced security measures by the U.S. Secret Service and the New York Police Department. Smith claimed the president cost local businesses around Madison Square Garden a lot of money.
“Businesses were thriving before you showed up. Parking garages were being fed before you showed up. There was noise reverberating off the walls of Madison Square Garden before you showed up. I thought you were a New Yorker, Mr. President. I thought you cared…” Smith challenged. “I thought you were about making money for people? What happened to the parking garages? How much money did they make? What happened to the local restaurants? How much money did they make?”
Both of Trump’s responses focus on attacking Smith’s IQ and his willingness to run for office. This feud started when Smith said hours before the contest that he would blame President Trump if the Spurs beat the Knicks in Game 3.
Sure enough, that is exactly what happened with the 115-111 result. Victor Wembanyama dominated in the victory with 32 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks.
Trump reportedly won’t be attending Game 4 of the NBA Finals tonight as the Spurs look to even the series against the Knicks.
Now, the world waits to see how Smith will respond to the president.
