Donald Trump answered Stephen A. Smith’s Knicks criticism with an insult, saying the ESPN commentator may not have the “high IQ” needed to run for president.
The president remarked after Smith blamed Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden for disrupting the New York Knicks during their 115-111 Game 3 NBA Finals loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Monday.
“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump told reporters after the game. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does actually.”
Trump attended the game at Madison Square Garden, where his presence brought Secret Service security and stricter procedures around the arena. When his face appeared on the jumbotron during the national anthem, loud boos could be heard from the crowd.
Smith later unloaded on The Stephen A. Smith Show, saying Trump should not have been at the game because the Knicks needed the night to belong to basketball.
“This is about an individual engaging in a level of narcissism that really rakes my freakin’ nerves,” Smith said. “He’s got no business here tonight. It has nothing to do with politics.”
“It was everything to do with the fervor that exists around the New York Knicks, and he is disrupting everything the Knicks have been vibing with,” he added.
Trump saw the night differently. Asked about the boos inside MSG, he said, “I think mostly cheers, it was loud, and it was very enthusiastic.”
