"I don't want him there," Smith said."It has nothing to do with politics, policy, or anything like that.
It has everything to do with him disrupting and contributing at the same time to the chaos that's going to exist at Madison Square Garden."To Smith's chagrin, Trump didn't listen.The president is expected to attend Monday night's game as the Knicks look to take a 3-0 series lead over the San Antonio Spurs.Smith addressed Trump's attendance again on "First Take" Monday morning.STEPHEN A SMITH BEGS TRUMP NOT TO ATTEND NBA FINALS GAME 3 AT MSG: "I DON'T WANT HIM THERE""This president has no business showing up in New York City.
I am dead serious.It is selfish.
It is narcissistic.It is ridiculous that he is coming to this game," Smith exclaimed.He then reiterated that his stance has nothing to do with politics."I would say the same thing if it were Obama, George W., or Clinton.
I don't give a damn if we went back to Reagan."That's where we disagree.Stephen A.Smith attends WrestleMania 42 Night 1 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev., on April 18, 2026.
(Andrew Timms/WWE)Smith would not say the same thing if Barack Obama were attending the game.There is plenty of evidence to suggest otherwise.
For one, whenever Smith has questioned Black politicians, he has often followed up with a series of apologies.Last year, he apologized to Kamala Harris and Michelle Obama simply for criticizing Rep.Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Black woman."Would Stephen A.
have had the same take if Obama had come to an NBA Finals game?" OutKick founder Clay Travis asked on X."I think there's a 0% chance.""He's the world's highest-paid buffoon," OutKick host Dan Dakich added.U.S.
President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, June 3, 2026.(Shawn Thew/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images)VICTOR WEMBANYAMA CROSSING HIS ARMS DURING U.S.
NATIONAL ANTHEM IS A PROBLEM FOR THE NBA | BOBBY BURACKFurther, Smith has spent...