Trump says he would easily beat Obama in a race, calls him overrated
Trump also tells Stephen A. Smith he was not on the ballot in the midterms, where Republicans suffered sweeping losses.
President Trump told Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN commentator, that he would beat former President Barack Obama "easily" in a hypothetical presidential race. The interview took place at the White House and was released Thursday on Smith's podcast, Straight Shooter. Trump called Obama "highly overrated," said Obama was a divider and described himself as someone who brings people together.
He cited his vote totals and state records in Texas and Florida. The interview came after sweeping Republican losses that flipped and to the Democrats. Asked what happened, Trump said he was not on the ballot.
He said "maybe" the Iran war was unpopular because of higher gasoline prices, and he said he hoped history would judge his decision as a great one. Smith told Trump his approval rating is lower than the Democrats'. An Economist/YouGov poll taken Nov. 9-11 found 32 percent of voters approve of Trump and 63 percent disapprove.
Smith later said on CNN he was shocked by Trump's dismissive tone toward Obama. Asked after the interview about the White House press secretary job, Smith answered "no way in hell."
- 32 percentapprove of Trump, in an Economist/YouGov poll taken Nov. 9-11Newsweek
- 63 percentdisapprove of Trump, in the same pollNewsweek
- $3.91 per gallonfuel price on Thursday, according to AAA as cited by The Daily BeastThe Daily Beast
- $3 trillionstock market loss the day after the election, as Trump put itThe Daily Beast
- 77,304,290votes Trump won in the 2024 presidential election, per NewsweekNewsweek
Three sides of the story
7 news outlets reported this · Little coverage from liberal outlets
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Liberal1 outlet
Trump's Obama boast mocked, midterm loss pressed
The Daily Beast runs three pieces. One follows a CNN panel on Erin Burnett OutFront that ridiculed Trump's boast, with commentator Paul Rieckhoff quipping that Trump "would beat Barack Obama in a Big Mac eating contest." Another reports Smith telling CNN's Laura Coates, "I was shocked that he went that far," and describing Trump as dismissive and disrespectful of Obama.
The third, headlined as Smith pointing out a "humiliating reality," centers on the midterm questions. Smith asks "What happened?" and Trump says he was not on the ballot. Smith then tells him his approval rating is lower than the Democrats'.
The Daily Beast adds the Economist/YouGov figure of 32 percent approval, says CNN analyst Harry Enten has disputed Trump's claim of a 99 percent rating, and notes it contacted the White House for comment. It also recalls Trump's remark that he hates some of his enemies.
- The Daily Beast: CNN Panelist Roasts Trump’s Fast Food Obsession
- The Daily Beast: Stephen A. Smith Calls Out Trump’s ‘Disrespectful’ Obama Comment
- The Daily Beast: Stephen A. Smith Points Out Humiliating Reality to Trump
Center2 outlets
Trump's Obama claim tested against votes, polls
Newsweek opens with Trump saying he could "easily" beat Obama while calling him "highly overrated," and then tests the claim against numbers. It lists Trump's 2024 total of 77,304,290 votes against Kamala Harris's 75,019,761, Obama's 2012 total, and state tallies for Florida and Texas, where Newsweek found Trump had the most votes of any nominee in decades of state data. It sets out CNN-SSRS and Pew polls comparing views of Trump and Obama, plus the Economist/YouGov approval figure of 32 percent.
It quotes Robert Collins of Dillard University saying this is "throwing red meat to his base." Newsweek notes that it asked the Obamas' office for comment. It also recalls that Democrats lost the 2010 midterms under Obama.
The Hill reports that Trump claimed he could "easily" beat Obama, days after Republicans took sweeping midterm losses, and quotes his line about having "many more votes" than Obama.
Conservative4 outlets
Smith's debrief of Trump and midterm blame
The New York Post, carrying a Fox News report, leads with Smith's appearance on "Hannity." Smith calls Trump "immovable" on taking blame for the midterm losses, says he disagrees with him, and warns Democrats about their far-left flank. RedState titles its piece around Trump telling Obama he is "overrated" and that he would beat him again.
Its writer says Smith is right that Trump urged voters to act as if he were on the ballot, but adds Trump is also correct that many Republicans apparently did not turn out. The writer notes Smith's remark, "I give him credit." The Washington Examiner leads with Smith saying "no way in hell" to the press secretary job.
It recounts that Trump has had no press secretary since firing Katie Zacharia and describes his Dana White announcement as a joke.
- New York Post: Stephen A Smith debriefs interview with President Trump, warns Democrats face steep challenge
- RedState: Trump Talks Midterms With Stephen A. Smith, Tells Obama: You're 'Overrated' – and I'd Beat You Again
- Washington Examiner: Stephen A. Smith says ‘no way in hell’ he’d take White House press secretary job
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For drivers, fuel sat near $3.91 a gallon on Thursday, per AAA as cited by The Daily Beast. Versus the day before the Iran war began, it is about $1 higher. Trump told Smith he had thought voters would be able to handle higher gasoline prices pretty well.
All sources: 9 articles from 7 outlets
Liberal (3)
- The Daily Beast: CNN Panelist Roasts Trump’s Fast Food Obsession
- The Daily Beast: Stephen A. Smith Calls Out Trump’s ‘Disrespectful’ Obama Comment
- The Daily Beast: Stephen A. Smith Points Out Humiliating Reality to Trump
Center (2)
- Newsweek: Trump Says He'd Beat Obama 'Easily' in Potential Presidential Race
- The Hill: Trump says he would 'easily' beat 'highly overrated' Obama
Conservative (4)
- New York Post: Stephen A Smith debriefs interview with President Trump, warns Democrats face steep challenge
- RedState: Trump Talks Midterms With Stephen A. Smith, Tells Obama: You're 'Overrated' – and I'd Beat You Again
- The Washington Times: Stephen A. Smith says 'no way in hell' Trump offered him press secretary role
- Washington Examiner: Stephen A. Smith says ‘no way in hell’ he’d take White House press secretary job
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