Whoopi Discusses Policy With Smith During In-Depth Interview
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith, known for his fiery sports commentary, took his signature directness to a different kind of debate this week—politics. Appearing on The View Tuesday, Smith didn’t hold back as he clashed with Whoopi Goldberg over the Democratic Party’s messaging problems. The conversation, while tense at times, underscored a growing concern among many observers: the Democrats’ struggle to connect with voters, particularly working-class Americans and minority groups.
Smith wasted no time making his point. While acknowledging that Donald Trump had been impeached twice and convicted of 34 felonies, he argued that the real story of the election wasn’t about Trump’s win—it was about the Democrats’ loss. “It’s not about him winning,” Smith declared. “It was an indictment against the Democratic Party and what the Democratic Party was offering to American citizens.”
Whoopi Goldberg admits Disney and ABC News’s The View is platform to promote Democrat talking points:
STEPHEN A. SMITH: [Y]ou’re talking about what he’s doing. But before you brought that up you brought up the message that the Democratic Party was disseminating. I’m challenging… pic.twitter.com/XEZVbXzWTs— Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) March 4, 2025
His criticism cut deep. Once the party of the working class, Smith argued, Democrats have veered off course, prioritizing niche issues over the concerns of everyday Americans. That, he said, is why Trump was able to make such gains.
Goldberg pushed back, insisting that the Democratic Party had been focused on critical issues like food assistance, family support, and personal freedoms. She defended their efforts, emphasizing that Democrats have always worked to provide for struggling Americans.
Smith, however, wasn’t buying it. He challenged Goldberg directly, arguing that the Democrats’ messaging had been ineffective. “That is not what they were doing,” he fired back.
The debate took a sharp turn when immigration came up. Smith pointed out that under Joe Biden, the U.S. experienced a significant migrant crisis, with over 12 million people entering the country. He contrasted Biden’s approach with that of Barack Obama, who deported more people than Trump but did so without drawing attention to it. “What does Joe Biden do?” Smith asked. “He opens borders.”
That reality, Smith suggested, is part of why Trump was able to gain support among minority voters—groups that Democrats have historically relied on but can no longer take for granted. The numbers back him up: Trump made notable gains with Black and Latino voters, a shift that has left many Democrats scrambling to reassess their approach.
And yet, according to Smith, there is no clear plan. The party, he argued, has failed to articulate a new strategy that will resonate with voters in the next election. He even went as far as to say that the Democratic Party currently has no real leader—a damning assessment as they prepare to go up against Trump once again.
“I want somebody to step up and recognize that man in the Oval Office, whether you like it or not, is potent, he’s coming, and he wins,” Smith warned. “You got to find a way to beat him.”