'They can't admit when they're wrong': Stephen A Smith says that's Washington's biggest problem

WASHINGTON, DC: ESPN personality and sports commentator Stephen A Smith used his own public apology to New York Knicks fans to argue that too many politicians refuse to admit when they make mistakes.

His remarks shifted the conversation from sports to politics. Smith said the reluctance to acknowledge errors has become one of Washington's biggest problems and called for elected officials to be more willing to correct themselves.

Stephen A Smith believes 'it's criminal for people not to admit they're wrong'

On the red carpet at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor gala at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, June 28, Smith was asked about publicly admitting he had been wrong in his assessment of the Knicks.

Instead of treating the moment as unusual, the sports analyst said admitting mistakes should be expected.

"Listen, we got to keep open minds. All of us are human, all of us are flawed in the eyes of God. We make mistakes, we're not right all the damn time," Smith said.

He rejected the idea that acknowledging an error makes someone a role model.

"For me, I don't deserve the word role model just because I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong," he expressed. "As far as I'm concerned, it's criminal for people not to admit they're wrong if they know they're wrong." 

Smith then broadened his criticism to the nation's political culture.

"Unfortunately, in a political landscape that we're living in, and by the way, what preceded it as well, a long time ago, there was this belief disseminated that if you admitted that you were wrong, it was a sign of weakness," he said.

Stephen A Smith says leaders should course correct

Smith argued that mindset has hurt Washington by discouraging politicians from acknowledging mistakes.

"If you were in Washington, I think that's part of their damn problem, that they can't admit when they're wrong, they can't admit the error of their ways and course correct," he said. 

He added that public officials should show voters they understand the same human flaws they expect others to recognize.

"That's the kind of stuff that needs to return to Washington," Smith said. "They need to remind us that they're human and they know what it's like to be human and they know what it's like to represent the constituency who also happens to be human beings. Nobody's perfect; they certainly are not."

Stephen A Smith's back-and-forth with Trump

Smith's comments come weeks after a public back-and-forth with President Donald Trump.

Trump called the ESPN commentator "an arrogant fool" and "a low IQ individual" on Truth Social after Smith floated the possibility of a 2028 presidential run.

The president also said Smith would "get annihilated" in a debate and argued he was "totally unqualified to ever think of running for high political office." 

The exchange followed Smith's criticism of Trump's attendance at Game 3 of the NBA Finals. On 'First Take', Smith said Trump had "no business" attending the game, calling the visit "selfish," "narcissistic" and "ridiculous" because of the additional security measures it required.

After Trump questioned Smith's intelligence, the sports analyst responded by mocking the president's appearance at the game.

"The brother wasn't awake," Smith said. "If it was that important for you to be there, why did you look like you were asleep? Didn't you call out former President Joe Biden as 'Sleepy Joe'? Well, what should we call you?"