Stephen A. Smith hits back after ESPN star sparked fury with take on Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein
The ESPN star - who recently signed a new, $100million contract - slammed the furor engulfing President Trump over the disgraced late financier.
Trump has faced furious calls to release more details on Epstein and his supposed 'client list', with Riley Gaines among those to turn on the president.
In response, Trump has accused members of his own movement of being 'duped' by the 'Epstein hoax'.
Amid the MAGA civil war, Smith slammed Republicans and claimed it was 'unbelievable' that this had become such a 'big deal'.
'It's really, really surprising that this matters. Of course I think there's a list but I don't know... nor do I care,' Smith told Chris Cuomo's 'NewsNation' show. 'I didn't blame Trump one bit for looking at them and saying: "Really? That really matters to you?"'
Stephen A. Smith says he couldn't care less about the Epstein client list—and claims most Americans feel the same.
He says Epstein's clients (who r*ped children) don't affect him at all because he's too busy living his own life.
Smith admits he's baffled by the public obsession… pic.twitter.com/h4Oy0q0J2E
— Shadow of Ezra (@ShadowofEzra) July 12, 2025
Smith's comments have caused a stir, with the ESPN host - among other things - branded 'dumb' and accused of 'moral failure'. But on Friday, he defended his views and insisted he is not bothered by any criticism.
'What I have to say is that I don't care, and the reason that I don't care is because everybody has an opinion, No 1,' Smith told TMZ.
'No 2, I get paid for mine... No 3, and most importantly, it's my opinion based on the facts as presented. I'm not getting personal, I'm not deriding or denigrating anybody. I'm just calling it like I see it when asked or when it's part of my job.
'That's what I do for a living and last time I checked, there's a whole bunch of people out here trying to do what I do. So that's the way it goes.'
Epstein was charged in 2008 for soliciting prostitution with an underaged girl and received a modest jail sentence in Florida. He was later charged with federal sex trafficking crimes in 2019. He hung himself in prison awaiting his trial, cops say.
However, his socializing with the likes of Prince Andrew, Bill Clinton, Bill Gates and hordes of other A-list celebrities, including Trump, have prompted many to believe that these 'elites' could have been involved in Epstein's crimes.
A Department of Justice announcement that Epstein did not, in fact, have a 'client list' has prompted a bipartisan push on Capitol Hill for the DOJ to release any files on the late financier and sex offender.
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