Stephen A. Smith raises suspicion on Donald Trump's link in Epstein files, drags Charlie Kirk into debate

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has raised suspicions about U.S. President Donald Trump and his link with the Epstein files. On Thursday, Democrats and a handful of Republicans reached 218 signatures to force a floor vote on a bill to release the Epstein files -- documents related to criminal charges of sex trafficking brought against the late convicted Jeffrey Epstein -- within 30 days.

Smith offered his take on Trump's alleged connection with the Epstein files on his YouTube show on Saturday.

"It's very, very difficult to believe that somebody could be associated with Epstein in any way and not get mentioned if you're a prominent figure," Stephen A. Smith said. "Now, what you deduce from that in terms of guilt or innocence is for you to do. We ain't trying to get sued. We ain't doing that. But what we will tell you that it's not a surprise to hear Trump's name in the mix. The question is: Is it to protect himself or to protect well-known public figures?

"We have a right to ask that question because the left is in on it now. But MAGA right was in on it, because unlike Kamala Harris, Joe Biden or anybody else, Trump campaigned on a release of the Epstein files. ... So, to then get into office and to suddenly walk around like he did months to go talk about 'what's the big deal? This is not a real story, we're not touching on this,' seemed very, very suspicious, which riled up some members of his base, who felt betrayed by Donald Trump."

Stephen A. Smith also name-dropped the late Charlie Kirk, a right-wing political activist, who was assassinated on Sept. 10.

"This ain't just the left coming after him. This is the right wanting those files released," Smith said. " And if we're being totally transparent here, one of those people was Charlie Kirk. I'm making no connection to his assassination. ... I'm just bringing him up because he was a prominent name, who was a prominent supporter of the president, who spent an inordinate amount of time bringing up the fact that those Epstein files needed to be released."

Earlier this week, Smith slammed the Democrats for releasing new Epstein files now when they could have done so four years ago, when Joe Biden was president.

Stephen A. Smith slams Arch Manning and Texas for poor start vs. Georgia

NFL: ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith - Source: Imagn

Stephen A. Smith slammed Texas quarterback Arch Manning and the team for its poor start against Georgia on Saturday night.

“Hey Peeps! Texas is down 14-3. I just watched Arch Manning put the ball right in dudes hands not once, not twice, but three d**n times on first, second, and third down, and these brothers are dropping passes. I’ve counted 4 dropped passes from him already in this game. D**n Texas Football. Y’all want to make this a game vs Georgia Football or not?” Smith tweeted on Saturday.

No. 5 Georgia went on to beat No.10 Texas 35-10 in a blockbuster SEC clash. The Longhorns now have a very slim chance of making the College Football Playoff, even if they win their two remaining regular-season games.