Stephen A. Smith Fires Back at Critics of His Trump Dinner: 'What Are You Doing?'

Popular American sports commentator and host Stephen A. Smith has hit back strongly at critics of his White House meeting with President Donald Trump. On his "Straight Shooter" show on Thursday, he challenged his critics, asking, "What are you doing?"

Smith said he wanted to bring several issues to the president's attention. His top priority, however, was one issue: how the squashing of DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) initiatives is affecting the private sector.

In his words, with DEI initiatives being squashed, CEOs of corporations in the private sector have become fearful — if they give philanthropic and charitable money to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), it might be perceived as a DEI initiative being exercised. As a result, corporations are holding back on giving, he told the president.

Smith said he asked the president to speak out against that effect. According to Smith, Trump said he had not thought about that angle and that it was something he was going to tackle. Not only that, Trump later followed up with a phone call assuring him that he would raise the matter within days when he meets HBCU officials.

"I don't know what's going to happen, but I tried, as I always have and as I always will," Smith said. His argument was that raising the issue directly with the president, rather than merely criticising from outside, was the responsible path.

Smith met President Trump at the White House on 15 October. Also present at the meeting were comedian and host Bill Maher and musician Kid Rock. Criticism from various quarters began after that meeting.

On the show, Smith said, "All of these folks that are complaining about me showing up to the White House with Bill Maher — what are you doing? Have you done anything? Are you doing anything?" Expressing his frustration, he apologised to SiriusXM executives for his language, but he did not move from his position.

"It's never enough," he said. His complaint was that whenever someone tries to do something for the community, they are labelled as selling out, while the critics themselves effectively do nothing.

Throughout the show, Smith repeatedly criticised comedian D.L. Hughley. On the "Uncertain" podcast, Hughley had questioned why Trump feels so comfortable talking to Smith when he has shown an aversion to people who challenge him.

Hughley said, "I think that it says something about you when the people who hate us like you." He also asked, "Why is it the people that hate my heroes love you?"

In reply, Smith said he was sick and tired of such complaints. "People keep complaining about what needs to be done in our community, but when somebody actually tries to take steps to do something in their own small way, we call it selling out," he said.

On Wednesday, Smith also defended the meeting during an appearance on "The View," saying he would not apologise for it. Co-host Sunny Hostin raised Trump's clear history of racial bias and asked whether he thought he had got anywhere in the meeting.

Smith replied, "I don't know. We'll find out, but he's the president of the United States, and I'll be damned if I'm not going to try." He repeatedly argued that Trump would remain in office until 2028 and that people would have to deal with that reality. "When it comes to getting things done, I'm all about exhausting every means and every measure to try to do what's in the best interest of our community. I'm not apologising for that to anybody," he said.