Charles Barkley, the outspoken basketball Hall of Famer, has weighed in on the potential presidential aspirations of ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith, and his assessment is far from optimistic. Barkley, known for his unfiltered opinions and often humorous commentary, believes Smith’s ubiquitous presence on television would ultimately hinder any serious political ambitions.
In a recent interview on OutKick’s "Don’t @ Me with Dan Dakich," Barkley was directly asked about Smith’s chances of one day residing in the Oval Office. His response was characteristically blunt and dismissive. "Hell no! Come on, stop it," Barkley exclaimed, leaving little room for interpretation. He urged Dakich to drop the topic, emphasizing that Smith is a friend but that he should abandon any thoughts of a presidential run.
Barkley’s primary concern revolves around Smith’s overexposure on various media platforms. He believes that the public could quickly tire of seeing Smith’s face across different networks and programs, ultimately diminishing his credibility and appeal. Barkley cited Smith’s appearances on shows like "General Hospital" and "Law & Order" as examples of his excessive presence, suggesting that it’s becoming too much for the public to digest.
"I was in the studio last night and I saw he was going to be on ‘Law & Order’ tonight. I mean he is already on ‘General Hospital,’ he’s already on ‘General Hospital,’ now he is going to be on ‘Law & Order’ tonight, and I was just laughing. I was like, ‘Yo man, you are starting to be too much right now,’" Barkley said, highlighting his concerns about Smith’s widespread media engagements.
Barkley further elaborated on his point, stating that Smith’s frequent appearances on CNN, "Fox & Friends," and various entertainment programs are diluting his impact. He warned that such saturation could lead to the public losing interest and taking Smith less seriously. "Like, you are going to be on CNN, you are going to be on ‘Fox & Friends,’ now you on ‘General Hospital,’ now you on ‘Law & Order,’ I’m like, ‘Yo man, knock it off. Stop being on every TV show’ because at some point people are going to get sick of you, and you are going to be like, ‘Yeah I probably did too much.’ But once you do too much, it’s too late and people don’t take you serious, and I think he’s got to be careful in that aspect," Barkley cautioned.
Barkley’s perspective stems from his own approach to media appearances and endorsements. He revealed that he actively seeks to minimize his television presence, believing that "less is more" when it comes to maintaining public interest and respect. He limits his commercial endorsements and selectively chooses his television appearances to avoid overexposure.
"My friends close to me give me a lot of credit, and I’m not blowing my own horn, I want to be on TV as less as possible, to be honest with you Dan. That’s why I only do a couple commercials a year. I don’t go on a bunch of shows, less is more, because the more you do, the less people take you serious. And I don’t feel the need to grab every dime, I don’t feel the need to grab every dime at my disposal," Barkley explained, emphasizing his deliberate strategy of minimizing his media footprint.
He even shared an anecdote about arguing with his agent, who suggested doing more commercials. Barkley insisted on sticking to just two commercials a year, prioritizing his long-term reputation over short-term financial gains. "I’ve been arguing with my agent, he said we could do five-seven commercials a year, I said we are going to do two commercials a year, that’s it. I don’t want to be on TV all the time. I get sick of seeing myself do March Madness, but I don’t want to be on TV all the time and I don’t do a bunch of TV stuff because I don’t want to – people get sick of you, that’s my number one thing. People will get sick of you, so I don’t want to be on TV more, I want to be on TV less," Barkley reiterated.
Stephen A. Smith has publicly acknowledged the possibility of a presidential run, stating on X (formerly Twitter) that he is "leaving all doors open." However, he also expressed his aversion to the world of politics, admitting that he "hate(s) the thought of being a politician." Despite Smith’s potential interest, Barkley remains skeptical of his chances, firmly believing that his pervasive media presence would be a significant obstacle to overcome.
Barkley’s comments reflect a broader concern about the role of celebrity in politics. While name recognition and media exposure can be advantageous in launching a political campaign, they can also be detrimental if the public perceives the candidate as being more of a celebrity than a serious contender. Barkley’s advice to Smith is essentially a warning against blurring the lines between entertainment and politics, suggesting that Smith needs to carefully manage his public image if he wants to be taken seriously as a potential presidential candidate.
