08/18/2026
Yall don't care about facts, all yall care about your political party. Below are the facts that contradict this smear campagne but only 10% of you will read it.
This viral graphic (originally posted by Bishop Talbert Swan) is a classic example of context stripping—taking isolated soundbites, legitimate sports debates, and independent political commentary, stripping away all context, and assembling them into a narrative that frames Stephen A. Smith as a MAGA sympathizer.
1. Distortions on Politics & Donald Trump
Claim: “Defended Trump by comparing his prosecution to the racist persecution of Black historical figures”
The Reality: On Sean Hannity’s show (April 2024), Smith argued that some Black men might relate to Trump feeling targeted by the legal system. He faced immediate backlash and explicitly clarified on The View and his podcast that he was not defending Trump, endorsing him, or equating Trump’s legal troubles to civil rights struggles. He was attempting an electoral analysis of why Trump’s polling numbers among Black men were shifting.
Claim: “Used the MAGA term ‘lawfare’ to frame cases as politically motivated”
The Reality: Smith’s argument was strategic, not ideological: he warned Democrats that bringing dozens of felony counts in rapid succession during an election cycle risked backfiring by energizing Trump’s base and creating sympathy among undecided voters. Smith has repeatedly called Trump's actions regarding January 6th and election denial unconstitutional and disqualified him from leadership.
Claim: “Argued Black voters should consider voting Republican”
The Reality: At a 2015 Vanderbilt University lecture (and reiterated since), Smith proposed a transactional political strategy: if Black voters vote 90–95% Democrat automatically, Democrats take the voting bloc for granted while Republicans ignore it entirely. His argument was about political leverage and competition, not an endorsement of Republican party policy.
Claim: “Appears frequently with Sean Hannity and echoes right-wing talking points”
The Reality: Smith regularly enters Fox News, CNN, and NewsNation specifically to debate across party lines. He frequently clashes with Hannity on healthcare, systemic inequality, and affirmative action, stating openly that mainstream figures should not retreat into partisan media echo chambers.
2. The WNBA & Women’s Sports Debates
Claim: “Attacked Sheryl Swoopes, calling her take ‘insane,’ while defending Caitlin Clark”
The Reality: Swoopes claimed during an interview that Caitlin Clark broke the NCAA scoring record only because Clark was a "25-year-old fifth-year senior taking 40 shots a game." Clark was actually 22, in her standard 4th year, taking roughly 20 shots per game. Smith called Swoopes’s factual errors "insane" and inexcusable for a Hall of Famer, not her character or basketball legacy.
Claim: “Criticized Angel Reese over her clothing while praising Caitlin Clark’s branding”
The Reality: Smith has consistently championed Angel Reese’s marketability, brand value, and cultural impact. His commentary on WNBA dynamics focused on how corporate media and sneaker brands market athletes differently based on demographics, repeatedly pointing out systemic double standards in sports business.
Claim: “Feuded with Monica McNutt after she challenged his show’s coverage”
The Reality: On First Take, McNutt stated Smith could have covered the WNBA earlier. While it made for awkward TV, Smith responded by highlighting his multi-year track record of hiring, featuring, and promoting Black women analysts on his platform (including McNutt, Chiney Ogwumike, Andraya Carter, and Kimberly A. Martin) long before the 2024 rookie wave.
3. Racial Discourse & Media Controversies
Claim: “Defended Jerry Jones after the segregation photo resurfaced”
The Reality: A 1957 photo showed a 14-year-old Jerry Jones standing in a crowd outside North Little Rock High School during integration. Smith argued that condemning an 80-year-old man in 2022 solely for standing in a crowd as a 14-year-old boy—without pointing to explicit discriminatory policies in his subsequent 65 years—was unfair media sensationalism.
Claim: “Targets Black male athletes more harshly than white owners and power figures”
The Reality: Smith has led aggressive media crusades against white owners and executives, including calling for the ouster/penalization of Donald Sterling, Robert Sarver, Dan Snyder, and Jon Gruden, while routinely criticizing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Summary
