SiriusXM host Stephen A. Smith issued a public apology Wednesday to Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas during his show “Straight Shooter,” following criticism of his earlier comments about her rhetoric toward President Donald Trump.
Smith had faced backlash after his Oct. 8 remarks, in which he described Crockett’s frequent verbal attacks on President Trump as “disrespectful” and questioned whether her behavior served her constituents.
🚨NEW: Stephen A. Smith *GOES BALLISTIC* on Jasmine Crockett over being “DISRESPECTFUL” to TRUMP🚨
“Let me tell you what gets me annoyed. And I hope Jasmine Crockett is listening to this.”
“When you go on national television and you call the president of the United States out… pic.twitter.com/Q4jSxVeUaI
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) October 9, 2025
The sports and political commentator said in a video on his YouTube channel that he regretted how his comments may have been used to amplify attacks against Crockett.
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“I get it now with Trump feeding into that nonsense, giving him fodder or ammunition to continue to go out there and talk about our black women that way. I got it. I don’t like that at all. I don’t want to be associated with nothing like that,” Smith said.
“And I apologize because I respect the hell out of Jasmine Crockett and what she has accomplished. I absolutely do. And I appreciate the fact that she feels compelled to fight the way that she’s fought, the way that she fights because of what she’s dealing with.”
Smith said his intent was never to add to criticism of Crockett from others, including the president.
He continued, “I don’t want enemies. I truly don’t. But I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to call it like I see it. It should be done respectfully. It should be done with the sensitivity that it needs to be done with. I get it. I understand.”
He then reiterated his apology directly, saying, “But I’m going to be me. I’m going to call it like I see it. I can look Jasmine Crockett in the face and say, ‘I’m sorry for any, any, any, any kind of noise I caused in your direction.’ Because she is accomplished and she is smart and she does have an incredible, incredible challenge working in this political climate on Capitol Hill. I got it.”
Smith did not identify which of President Trump’s remarks prompted his apology, but Trump had referred to Crockett as “a very low IQ person” during an appearance on “Sunday Morning Futures.”
“And when Trump came at her like that, I said, ‘Damn it.’ I was pissed off because I said that’s what they’re talking about when they’re saying, you know what, when you question something about her, it’s going to invite that,” Smith said.
“I understand.”
Before his apology, Smith had addressed the controversy on Oct. 13 without retracting his original critique.
He said then that he stood by his assessment but emphasized that his comments were meant as constructive criticism.
“What I was saying was: this educated, brilliant black woman representing over 750,000 people is engaging in verbiage and rhetoric for the streets! And that’s fine when you in the streets!” Smith said.
“How many of y’all bring the streets to the table when you at the negotiating table trying to get a deal done? How many of you are able to think that for a second that you able to bring street verbiage to Capitol Hill and that’s gon’ work for you?”
Rep. Crockett, who has drawn attention for her combative approach in Congress and frequent clashes with Republicans, has been outspoken in her criticism of President Trump.
She has referred to him as both a “wannabe Hitler” and “an enemy to the United States.”
🚨NEW: Jasmine Crockett Calls Trump “WANNABE HITLER”🚨@DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/RMuMfh9vgY
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) July 20, 2025
During an interview on SiriusXM’s “The Lurie Daniel Favors Show” on Wednesday, Crockett said she is considering a run for the U.S. Senate in 2026.
She claimed that she believes she could defeat the current Democratic primary field, citing recent polling data.
Crockett, a first-term congresswoman representing Texas’s 30th Congressional District, has built a national profile through high-profile committee confrontations and strong partisan commentary.
Smith’s apology appears to have been aimed at repairing tensions after his remarks drew pushback from Crockett’s supporters and segments of his own audience.
The exchange between Smith and Crockett marks the latest in a series of public clashes involving prominent figures reacting to the congresswoman’s outspoken style.
Whether the apology will ease tensions between Smith’s audience and Crockett’s supporters remains unclear as both continue to comment publicly on political and cultural issues.
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