Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

‘We can’t be watching the same stuff!’ Stephen A Smith spars with Fox News’ Hannity over Trump’s mental state

‘I know you’re not talking about somebody being lucid and cogent and enunciating their thoughts with clarity, and you’re bragging about Donald Trump,’ Smith said

James Liddell
Friday 25 October 2024 08:21 EDT
Comments
Stephen A Smith spars with Fox News Hannity over Trump’s mental state

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Stephen A Smith sparred with Sean Hannity live on air when the Fox News host launched into a strong defense of Donald Trump’s mental state.

The ESPN First Take host appeared on Fox News Hannity on Thursday evening soon after Trump made a campaign stop in Nevada, Las Vegas.

During the live segment, it wasn’t long before the two TV personalities exchanged barbs on the presidential candidates’ behalfs as Hannity hit out at Kamala Harris’s public speaking capabilities.

Claiming Harris ties herself up like a “pretzel,” Hannity said: “She has to give us word salads because she won’t tell us how she really feels. She’s hiding her true beliefs.”

Donald Trump doesn’t do that,” he added.

Smith quickly cut in to question whether Hannity is “watching the same stuff” as him to have reached such a conclusion about Trump’s mental acuity.

“I know you’re not talking about somebody being lucid and cogent and enunciating their thoughts with clarity, and you’re bragging about Donald Trump,” Smith said.

“We can’t be watching the same stuff if that’s what you’re doing.”

Fox News host Sean Hannity and ESPN host Stephen A Smith sparred over Trump’s speeches and mental state
Fox News host Sean Hannity and ESPN host Stephen A Smith sparred over Trump’s speeches and mental state (Fox News/Hannity)

Hannity – a close ally of the former president – went on to insist that Trump is “dialed in,” while Harris is “struggling”.

“She does these interviews, and I argue to you about the reason she is struggling. She’s like tied up in a pretzel because she can’t express what she has stated publicly,” the Fox host said.

“She has stated in the past to decriminalize illegal immigration, free food, housing, health care, education, sex change operations and a path to citizenship or banning fracking, banning offshore drilling, so she has to, you know, give us word salad because she won’t tell us how she really feels, she’s hiding her true beliefs.”

Hannity also suggested that Smith was “privately” going to vote for Trump, despite the ESPN personality telling the Los Angeles Times last month that he’s not an “ideologue” and believes that Harris will clinch the presidency.

“I told you I’m on the record. I’d have voted almost for any Republican but him. Nikki Haley. Chris Christie. But not him,” Smith said.

The Straight Shooter author is set to join Chris Cuomo and author Bill O’Reilly as moderators for a NewsNation town hall on October 30, which Cuomo says is aimed at finding ways to get the country “to a better place.” Independent presidential candidate-turned-Trump surrogate Robert F Kennedy Jr and billionaire Harris campaign surrogate Mark Cuban are billed to take part in the event.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in