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ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith suggested that he would likely not run for president during an interview on ā€œHang Out with Sean Hannity,ā€ Fox News reported on Monday.

Smith said that he was ā€œgiving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027ā€ and that he would contemplate it in 2026 during an interview on ā€œCBS News Sunday Morningā€ in February. However, he told Fox News host Sean Hannity that he would not run if doing so meant relinquishing his money when Hannity expressed skepticism about a potential White House bid.

ā€œI don’t think I’m running either because I’ve got to give up my money,ā€ Smith said.

ā€œLet me put the presidential aspirations to bed,ā€ he added. ā€œIf I have to give up my money, it’s not happening.ā€

Smith similarly told CBS News’ Robert Costa that he did not want to sacrifice money to pursue the presidency during the February interview.

ā€œWhy would you give all of this up?ā€ Costa asked.Ā ā€œAll of this money, success, notoriety.ā€

ā€œWell, I didn’t say I would. That’s the reason why I’ve never announced that I’m running,ā€ Smith responded.

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He also asserted that he would make his final decision early in 2027.

ā€œI am not ruling it out because I expect a lot of success to come my way,ā€ Smith told Costa. ā€œAnd Lord help everybody if the amount of success comes my way ensures that I never have to worry about my quality of life ever again.ā€

Smith further said during the CBS News interview that if he were to run, he would run as a Democrat.

He has repeatedly criticized Democrats over hot-button topics related to their rhetoric, strategy and policy.

Moreover, Smith told Hannity during the interview that he would vote for Secretary of State Marco Rubio over most Democrats, with the exceptions of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro.

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