Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith via Sundae Conversations YouTube

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, a notoriously outspoken liberal, actually defended former President Donald Trump and claimed that he does not believe, unlike many of his leftist colleagues in the sports media world, that the former POTUS is a racist as critics have accused him of being time and time again.

Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith via Full Send Podcast YouTube

During an appearance at the Semafor Media Summit on Monday, an audience member during the Q&A segment asked Smith about his relationship and thoughts on President Donald Trump. Smith said that before Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, he “thoroughly enjoyed talking” to him, who at the time was simply the celebrity host of the hit show The Apprentice as well as a well-connected real estate mogul.

“He used to throw a lot of events at — you know — at his casinos and stuff like that, and I genuinely liked him,” Smith said to the audience, who was perhaps hoping for some red meat controversy that could go viral.

While Smith did state that he felt that Trump had personally changed in ways he did not agree with when pursuing the GOP nomination in 2016, he did firmly claim that unlike many liberal commentators who jumped on the bandwagon to claim that Trump was abhorrently racist, he did not believe those accusations to be true.

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“I didn’t know who this guy was running for president, I think he’s changed, but I will tell you this, I think when people call him racist and stuff like that, I’ve never thought of Trump that way,” he added. “He’s not against black people, he’s against all things not named Trump. There’s a difference.”

Coming from Smith of all the left-wing personalities in the sports world, this defense of the controversial former president sounds earth shattering. Don’t expect, however, for Smith to be joining Trump on the campaign trail anytime soon though.

Donald Trump

Donald Trump via Fox News YouTube

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Smith, having to cover himself to a degree, said he isn’t completely “beyond” voting for a Republican one day, but he won’t be voting for Trump if his name ends up on the ballot for a third time.

What are your thoughts? Do you agree or disagree with Smith? Let us know in the comments below and across social media.

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