Stephen A. Smith believes Barack Obama's recent friendly chat with Donald Trump at Jimmy Carter's funeral shows that voters can't trust any politician.
The two fierce political rivals were caught on camera in what appeared to be a very heated argument, and Trump later said he thinks Obama likes him.
But First Take host Smith was unimpressed that Obama seemed so friendly to Trump in Washington after such angry opposition to him during last year's election campaign.
'Look, was that a good look for Barack Obama? No,” Smith said. 'Civility is the order of the day. One is a former president, the other is the president-elect. So, to some extent, there is a relationship that everyone should have. We get it, we get it.'
'Here's my thing: It wasn't a good look, but it wasn't a good look because of Trump.
“It wasn't a good look because of all the things that were said about Trump during the campaign while you (Obama) were trying to convince tens of millions of people to vote for Kamala Harris.”
Stephen A. Smith Was Not Impressed With Barack Obama's Friendly Chat With Donald Trump
Raising his voice, Smith continued: “Fascist,” “threat to democracy,” you know, people mentioning Nazis and all that when they talk about Trump. So maybe if you (Obama) hadn't said all those things, people wouldn't have behaved like that.
'Look, for me I see it totally, totally different. In politics anything goes, we understand it.
“But in the end this shows that we have to be very selfish in thinking in terms of ourselves and what is best for the country's interests, rather than listening to what these politicians say.”
'We just can't trust them. We simply can't trust them. Chances are, Obama didn't mean even half of the things he alluded to or flat out said about Trump. Maybe Hillary Clinton did it. Maybe Michelle Obama did it. But Barack Obama himself? Probably not.
'At least they have a little in common when it comes to illegal immigrants: Obama sent more than Trump! He just didn't announce it. But he sure did. “It was the antithesis of what Joe Biden did.”
Going back to the optics of Obama and Trump talking, Smith said, “I don't think it's a big deal.”
'I think class and decorum are the order of the day, especially at a funeral, let alone the funeral of one of the former presidents of the United States.
“I don't think this is the time for vitriol. I don't think this is the time for insults. That's not the place. Obama has always been considered class personified. So it's not a big deal.
Obama and Trump spoke at Jimmy Carter's funeral in Washington last week.
“I don't think it's a big deal, I just think in light of everything that was said about him before the election, I would venture to say it wasn't a good look.” '
After the images went viral on social media, Trump seemed only too happy to speculate that he and Obama actually get along.
“I didn't realize how friendly he seemed,” Trump said. “I said, ‘Wow, they seem like two people who like each other.’ And we probably did.
'We have a little different philosophies, right? But we probably will. I don't know. We just get along well. But I got along with almost everyone.