Barack Obama was once considered the Democrat Party’s most powerful political figure.
Now his influence appears to be waning fast.
And Barack Obama just received a humiliating 2028 reality check from the last place he expected.
ESPN star delivers brutal truth about Obama’s diminishing political power
Stephen A. Smith dropped a bombshell that’s sending shockwaves through Democrat circles across America.
The outspoken ESPN commentator, known for his fiery hot takes on sports, stepped into the political arena with a stunning assessment of Barack Obama’s current political clout – and it wasn’t pretty.
On a recent episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the sports analyst delivered a brutal reality check about a hypothetical match-up between former President Barack Obama and President Donald Trump.
“Once upon a time, I thought Barack Obama would smoke him,” Smith confessed. “I’m not so sure anymore.”
Smith pointed to the devastating 2024 election results as evidence of Obama’s diminished influence in American politics.
“It was Barack Obama that spoke on behalf of Kamala Harris. Michelle Obama certainly put forth her due diligence in doing the same,” Smith noted. “Where did that get them? They lost the popular vote, lost the Electoral College vote, lost every swing state, lost the Senate, lost the House. I mean, damn, it’s L’s all over the place!”
Stephen A. Smith is highly skeptical that Barack Obama could defeat President Trump in a hypothetical race for a third term. He points out that the 44th President and his wife, Michelle, did everything in their power to get Kamala Harris elected, but their efforts backfired.… pic.twitter.com/GUfpUsi3pR
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) April 4, 2025
The ESPN commentator’s remarks came amid speculation about Donald Trump potentially seeking a third term – something that would require overcoming the 22nd Amendment’s two-term limit on the Presidency.
Trump recently told NBC News he was “not joking” about a hypothetical third term run, suggesting “There are methods by which you could do it,” though he added, “It is far too early to think about it.”
This sparked some leftists to counter with the idea that if Trump could somehow run for a third term, then Obama could too.
Trump himself seemed receptive to the challenge, saying he would “love” to face Obama if the Constitution were changed to allow the two to seek a third term.
But Smith’s assessment suggests such a rematch would no longer be the slam dunk for Obama that Democrats might have once assumed.
The Obamas’ fading star power signals a major shift in American politics
The brutal assessment from Smith highlights a dramatic reversal of political fortunes in America.
For years, Democrats have treated Barack Obama as political royalty – a kingmaker whose endorsement was considered golden.
Obama’s campaign appearances for Kamala Harris were supposed to energize the Democrat base and swing undecided voters. Instead, they failed to prevent a landslide defeat.
Michelle Obama, once floated as a potential presidential candidate herself, similarly couldn’t move the needle for Harris despite her personal popularity.
The 2024 election results suggest the Obama mystique may have finally worn off with the American public.
This represents a seismic shift in Democrat politics, where the party has struggled to find compelling new leaders who can connect with voters across the political spectrum.
Smith’s comments also reflect a growing recognition among political observers that Trump has fundamentally transformed the political landscape in ways that transcend traditional party divisions.
While Democrats once believed Obama’s eloquence and historical significance would always trump Trump’s bombastic style, the election results tell a different story.
The American public seems increasingly drawn to Trump’s straightforward, America First approach rather than the more globalist policies championed by Obama and his political allies.
Smith’s willingness to publicly acknowledge this reality is particularly notable given the entertainment industry’s general leftward tilt.
As an influential voice who reaches millions of Americans daily, his candid assessment could spark a long-overdue reckoning within Democrat circles about their messaging and leadership.
For conservatives who have long argued that Obama’s actual political influence was overstated by a fawning media, Smith’s comments serve as vindication.
The brutal election results, combined with high-profile acknowledgments like Smith’s, suggest that the era of Obama-style politics may be permanently in America’s rearview mirror.
