Smith Discusses Trump’s Meetings In Alaska and DC With World Leaders
In a stunning twist on a platform not often known for geopolitical hot takes, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took a hard detour from the sports world this week and dove headfirst into the political trenches — delivering a fiery, history-laced defense of President Donald Trump on his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show. The target? Those blaming Trump for the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
With the kind of intensity usually reserved for NBA debates, Smith dismantled the idea that Trump bore responsibility for the outbreak of war. Instead, he turned his rhetorical sights on a trio of Democratic presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama, and Bill Clinton — alleging that the true groundwork for Russia’s aggression had been laid on their watch.
“We ain’t gonna act like he [Trump] caused this now. It’s Democrats in office,” Smith declared. And from there, the gloves were off.
Smith walked listeners through a geopolitical timeline, starting with the Obama administration, under which Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 — a move that significantly shifted the regional balance of power.
He pointed out that while the U.S. responded with sanctions and diplomatic pressure, many critics, including perhaps even then-VP Joe Biden, felt the response was insufficient. Smith didn’t mince words — Obama’s administration, he argued, missed a critical moment to apply meaningful pressure.
Then came Clinton. Smith highlighted the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw Ukraine surrender its nuclear arsenal in exchange for vague security assurances from the West. “It was Clinton in office when you made a deal that disarmed Ukraine,” Smith said, laying out how that moment locked Ukraine into a relationship of dependence on the United States — one that continues to play out on today’s global stage.
As for Biden? Smith squarely noted that the full-scale invasion happened under his presidency — not Trump’s. “It was Biden in office when a full-fledged war against Ukraine took place,” he argued.
Yet perhaps the most surprising part of Smith’s monologue wasn’t the critique — but the clarity. While he admitted he doesn’t love the idea of pouring billions into another country, he reminded listeners that the United States made a promise — and it should keep it.
“We promised them this! You owe it to the Ukraine, Ukrainians, you absolutely do,” Smith declared, his voice rising with conviction. “Promises made are supposed to be promises kept!”