Trump Refused to Take Blame for Midterm Losses in White House Interview, Stephen A. Smith Says

ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has said that in a White House interview, US President Donald Trump was completely unwilling to take blame for the Republican Party's (GOP) devastating losses in the midterm elections. Speaking on Thursday on Fox News's 'Hannity' with host Sean Hannity, Smith debriefed the 40-minute, wide-ranging interview.

Smith said the pair discussed the GOP's devastating midterm losses, in which the party was essentially 'slaughtered', in his words. He said he asked Trump whether he was willing to point the finger at himself, and that Trump was 'immovable' and 'dogged' on that point.

Smith said Trump repeatedly said he was not on the ballot. In reply, Smith said he told him that made absolutely no sense, because during his midterm campaigning Trump himself had told Americans to vote as if he were on the ballot. Smith said he also asked what if voters had done exactly that and that was the reason for the loss. According to Smith, Trump refused to accept that.

Smith said Trump's attitude is that the candidates were not that great, and that if he himself had been running, this would not have happened. Smith said he does not agree with Trump's perception. In his view, the blue wave stems from Americans being dissatisfied with Trump's presidency; in their eyes he did not have his eye on the ball and came across as a bit detached.

Smith also told Fox News that Trump gave him pushback when they discussed the impact of the Iran War and tariffs on voter sentiment and the economy.

Smith also addressed speculation that Trump had offered him the role of White House press secretary. He described that as 'absolutely hilarious'. He said people evidently do not know about the life he lives and the affluence ESPN and Disney have blessed him with. Smith said he would not take that pay cut for almost anything but the presidency, and that becoming press secretary was not happening.

Smith, who has criticised both Democrats and Republicans, warned that the Democratic Party faces a challenge from its far-left flank. He said many people now view the Democratic Party as a divided party. Although the party describes itself as a very big tent with room for everybody, he said the progressive left has shown there is not room for everybody, and that it has a problem with anyone unwilling to capitulate to its desires and ideological beliefs 100 percent.