Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

‘Figure It Out’: Stephen A Smith Calls Dems ‘Absolute Disgrace’

Screenshot/Rumble/Fox News

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith tore into the Democratic Party Wednesday over their conduct since President Donald Trump took office, urging them to “do the job” American voters sent them to do during an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity.

Democrats remained seated and rarely applauded during Trump’s 99-minute address on March 4,  even when Secret Service Director Sean Curran presented Devarjaye “D.J.” Daniel with credentials during the speech, receiving a hug from the 13-year-old Houston-area resident who is battling brain cancer. Smith said Democrats should be looking for ways to reach “deals” with Trump.

“I don’t consider myself a part of the Democratic Party. I’m very ashamed of what I’ve seen from them over the last several years, and I’ve stated that in front of your face and that of many others on many occasions. I thought that the behavior of some of — not all, but some of the Democrats during Trump’s speech to both houses last week was disgraceful. I thought —” Smith said before Hannity asked, “Some? Hold on a second, let me challenge you. Some? Who stood for the First Lady? Who stood for Laken Riley’s mother?”

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Video of the speech showed many Democrats did not stand and applaud Daniel at the speech, with multiple social media accounts saying Democratic Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan rolled her eyes when Daniel was introduced by Trump.

“No, I’m sorry, I was just talking about Representative Green getting put out and censured. I was talking about them not standing for Laken Riley. I was talking about them not standing for the young boy who was a cancer patient,” Smith said. “I mean, my God, it’s just absolutely pathetic. But I didn’t see several of the representatives — for example, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, he would sit there and what have you and conduct himself professionally.”

Only ten Democrats voted to censure Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas for his conduct during Trump’s speech, where he was ejected.

Smith also took aim at Democratic messaging, including a March 5 video similar to the character selection screens of the “Street Fighter” video game franchise that influencer Sulhee Jessica Woo posted on Instagram.

“I don’t know who the hell came up with the dancing videos. I don’t know who the hell came up with, you know, 22 representatives at the same time saying the same message, nothing innovative, nothing authentic whatsoever. It was just the same old, same old. It was an absolute disgrace,” Smith said. “I don’t know who came up with that. Then you have to take into consideration some of the other things that we were seeing from them. In the end, it just shows how detached they are.”

“But here’s why there is hope, Sean Hannity. I’m going to tell you why there is hope. Because you got people like me, and I don’t think that I’m alone, that’s ready to purge the damn party,” Smith continued. “What we have been seeing from them, it doesn’t resonate. It’s not working any longer, we aren’t falling for the okey-doke, we’re not buying what they are selling. At the end of the day, they’ve got to stand up, step up and show that they are ready to do the job that folks sent them to the nation’s capital to do. That’s work with whatever administration is in office.”

Democrats have largely opposed a continuing resolution that would fund the government through September, with only Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania saying publicly he would vote for the measure.

“I know they don’t like the fact that Donald Trump is in office, but the 47th president of the United States of America, his name is Donald Trump. And as you have told me on many occasions, if nothing else, the man is all about making deals,” Smith said. “Find deals that he is willing to make and make it happen. Figure it out.”