Stephen A. Smith on Trump's NFL and Presidency Link

Stephen A. Smith, an ESPN personality, claims that Donald Trump decided to run for president as an act of revenge after the NFL owners blocked his attempt to purchase the Buffalo Bills in 2014. Trump allegedly expressed his frustration to Smith over a phone call, stating that if the NFL 'got in his way', he would retaliate by running for president. Trump had offered $1 billion for the team, while the asking price was $1.4 billion, and the team was ultimately sold to the Pegula family. This revelation was discussed on Bill Maher's 'Club Random' podcast, where Smith recounted the story. Trump, who went on to win the presidency in 2016 and 2024, has a history of attempting to buy NFL teams and previously owned the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. The claim aligns with Trump's known conduct in business and politics, according to Smith and Maher.