ESPN Content Chief: “No Meaningful Conversations” With Stephen A. Smith About Presidential Run

ESPN Content Chief: “No Meaningful Conversations” With Stephen A. Smith About Presidential Run

ESPN content chief Burke Magnus said he’s had “no meaningful conversations” with high-paid host Stephen A. Smith about his stated interest in exploring a run for president in 2028.

Speaking to reporters at a press event centered on the Disney sports division’s forthcoming streaming service, Magnus was asked about the scenario of one of the network’s top personalities hitting the campaign trail. “It would be a new one for me,” the veteran programmer said with a smile.

“What his aspirations are beyond [ESPN], we haven’t had any meaningful conversations about,” Magus said. “As I’m fond of saying, all agreements are flexible enough to accommodate that kind of thing. But I presumed if that happened, he would be too busy to continue hosting First Take.”

After saying a month ago that he was “leaving all the doors open” to seeking the Democratic nomination, Smith has since ramped up the rhetoric, saying he has “no choice” given his objections to Donald Trump’s initial three months in office. Smith just two months ago agreed to a 5-year, $100 million contract extension to continue as one of ESPN’s top hosts.

Magnus was asked whether, if Smith did end up running for president, ESPN would need to take him off the air. “Of course,” he said.

The exec added that Smith is “extremely talented, essential for what we do, a critical part of our content offering. But he’s got interests that lie well beyond sports. So what I’m most excited about is we were able to come to an agreement that gives him flexibility to explore some of these other areas while continuing to be really one of those trend-setting voices in sports specifically.”