Queens, N.Y. natives Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith are involved in a war of words over the Knicks.
The ESPN personality said ahead of Game 3 that he would blame Trump if his presence at Madison Square Garden Monday night – which was greeted with boos – snapped their 13-game playoff winning streak.
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“If it causes the New York Knicks to lose tonight, I’m blaming him,” Smith said Monday. “I’m blaming the President of the United States! And damnit, I hope the GOP loses votes because of it if we lose tonight!”
He added: “This president has no business showing up in New York City…it is ridiculous that he is coming to this game.”
With Trump sitting in Knicks’ owner James Dolan’s suite, the Knicks did lose the game, 115-111, and now lead the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Wednesday.
Trump fired back at Smith when asked about his comments before boarding Air Force One on his way back to Washington, D.C.
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Smith had been linked to a potential 2028 Presidential run before pulling out earlier this year.
“I think he’s a nice guy, but you need a certain aptitude to run for president,” Trump said. “You need a high IQ. I’m not sure that Stephen has that. I don’t think he does, actually.”
Meantime, Rev. Al Sharpton took a shot at Trump while appearing Tuesday on “Morning Joe.”
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Sharpton was among the celebrities courtside for the game, along with Ben Stiller, Larry David, Jay-Z, Timothée Chalamet, Derek Jeter, Fat Joe, John Turturro, Jon Stewart and John McEnroe.
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“I think the President was the only one who got any negatives as they showed all of us,” Sharpton said. “Nobody else really got booed. I think people were celebrating this being in New York.”
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