Stephen A. Smith defended his decision to have dinner with Donald Trump during a tense appearance on “The View” on Wednesday, October 21, after Whoopi Goldberg expressed frustration over Trump’s treatment of marginalized communities. The ESPN commentator argued that refusing to engage with Trump would accomplish less than confronting him directly about issues affecting everyday Americans.
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Smith attended an October 15 White House dinner alongside comedian Bill Maher and musician Kid Rock. Smith explained that Maher invited him after Trump requested additional guests. He accepted because he wanted to address specific issues rather than simply socialize.
Smith entered the meeting with three priorities: unemployment among Black women, funding for historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), and concerns surrounding the Protect College Sports Act. He expressed opposition to the proposed legislation because he believes it fails to adequately represent student athletes.
However, Goldberg questioned whether conversations with Trump would lead to meaningful change.
“I am tired of having to go back time and time again and explain why this man is not understanding,” Goldberg stated.
She also expressed frustration over the treatment of Black Americans, Latinos, and women, questioning why Trump continued to need explanations about issues that have repeatedly been brought to his attention.
Smith maintained that regardless of how people feel about Trump personally, his position gives him considerable influence over policies affecting millions of Americans.
“I also think about the 77 million people who voted for him, and the reality is, is that a lot of times when we’re talking, so many people get so disgusted with him,” Smith said. “They ignore the reasons why he was supported.”
The commentator acknowledged the widespread opposition to Trump while arguing that his political support cannot simply be dismissed.
“There are millions upon millions of people who disagree with practically everything he does.”
Smith suggested that the election results reflected broader frustrations among Americans who wanted their concerns addressed.
“When you’ve received 77 million votes, that is an indictment against the state of our country and how people are feeling about it,” he stated.
According to the Federal Election Commission’s official 2024 election results, Trump received 77,302,580 votes, representing approximately 49.8 percent of votes cast nationwide.
Smith argued that understanding why those voters supported Trump should be part of the political conversation, even among those who strongly oppose his policies. The election results establish the size of Trump’s support, although they do not establish a single motivation shared by everyone who voted for him.
He also pushed back against the idea that meeting with Trump automatically meant endorsing his behavior.
“They’re not thinking about him,” Smith said while discussing Americans who want results from people with influence.
“They want people that are in a position to have some level of influence to get something done for themselves, their communities, and the American people.”
Smith acknowledged Trump’s lack of decorum but maintained that personal objections should not prevent discussions about employment, education, and community investment.
During the conversation, Smith also claimed that Trump appeared receptive when he raised concerns about how the administration’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion could affect private donations to HBCUs.
Smith said Trump contacted him again a few days after the dinner to revisit the concerns involving historically Black colleges and universities.
The Trump dinner had already sparked disagreement among “The View” hosts before Smith arrived.
During Tuesday’s episode, Ana Navarro strongly opposed the idea of dining with Trump, criticizing his administration’s immigration policies and treatment of Latino communities.
When Smith appeared Wednesday, Navarro questioned whether he had challenged Trump about controversial decisions. Smith insisted he had raised objections involving Venezuela, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflict with Iran.
He also reminded Navarro that he regularly criticizes Trump through his own media platforms.
Despite his explanations, Goldberg remained frustrated with the idea that another personal conversation could resolve longstanding disagreements over Trump’s policies and conduct.
Smith also shared an unusual detail from his White House visit.
He described Trump escorting him through the colonnade, where gold-framed presidential portraits were displayed.
“He took me down the colonnade where he had a picture of every single president,” Smith recalled.
However, he pointed out that the display included “every picture of every single president but Joe Biden.”
The display has previously drawn attention. Trump unveiled the Presidential Walk of Fame in September 2025, featuring portraits of past presidents in gold frames. Instead of displaying Biden’s photograph, the White House installed an image of an autopen producing Biden’s signature.