Stephen A Smith slams Sean Hannity for 'disrespectful' remarks about Biden's cognitive ability
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Sports commentator Stephen A Smith offered a rebuttal to Sean Hannity of Fox News, criticizing what he perceived as "disrespectful" remarks regarding President Biden's age and advising Hannity to "respect your elders."
During his interview with Hannity, the ESPN host commended Hannity for engaging with a sports expert to discuss the upcoming Super Bowl matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Smith and Hannity clash over remarks about President Biden's cognitive ability
"I'm accustomed to you acting like you know everything," remarked Smith. "So, you usually wouldn't call a guest to talk about the Super Bowl; you'd probably pontificate on your own about what was going to happen."
Hannity responded by suggesting that if Smith was going to come out his "A-game", he should be prepared to engage in a spirited exchange after being called out for his remarks about Biden.
In the midst of their exchange, Hannity had strong criticisms for Biden, who at 81 years old, was depicted in a recent report by special counsel Robert Hur as an elderly individual with a poor memory.
Despite the report's findings that the president "willfully" retained classified documents in his former vice presidential office and at his Delaware family home, no charges were brought against Biden.
Hannity directed criticism at Biden, highlighting his alleged failure to recall his time as vice president. He then redirected his focus toward Smith.
"I'm gonna call you out because yesterday, we learned from the special counsel, not Sean Hannity your buddy, you learned from the special counsel that Joe Biden is a cognitive mess", Hannity contended.
Smith and Hannity exchange heated words
Turning up the intensity, the conservative host asserted, "Well, you can say it now. Sean Hannity has been right all along. Say it."
Smith responded by clarifying that he never accused Hannity of being "wrong," but rather pointed out that his language regarding Biden had been "disrespectful."
"There was a difference", he emphasized in his retort, as reported by Mediaite. "What I said is there are nicer ways to speak about our President."
Acknowledging nuances in the discussion, the NBA analyst conceded that one could assert Biden is slow "communicatively" and that the president lacks "the pep in his step that he once had."
"He is in his 80s for crying out loud. Respect your elders," Smith reiterated. "Could you not be nicer about it?"
Continuing, he emphasized, "That is what I said to you, and I'm still saying it to you. You could be nice."