ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith offered a candid account of his White House interview with President Donald Trump during a Thursday appearance on “Hannity,” criticizing Trump’s response to Republican midterm losses while sounding an alarm about the Democratic Party’s progressive wing.

Smith said his discussion with Trump lasted 40 minutes and covered the GOP’s damaging midterm performance, the Iran war, tariffs, voter sentiment and the economy. He described the president as unwilling to accept personal responsibility for the election results.

“We talked about the devastating losses in the midterms and how the GOP essentially got slaughtered,” Smith told Fox News host Sean Hannity.

“I asked him, is he willing to point the finger at himself, and he was dogged … he was immovable in that regard,” Smith added.

Trump had urged Americans during his midterm push to vote as though he were on the ballot. According to Smith, however, the president separated himself from that message when the two discussed the election results.

“He said, ‘I wasn't on the ballot.’ I said, ‘That makes absolutely no sense, Mr. President. You said, put you on a ballot. That's what you told the American people to do.’ He said, ‘Well, they didn't do it.’ I said, ‘Well, what if they did do it and that was the reason you lost,’” Smith explained.

Smith said Trump would not accept that possibility and instead blamed the Republican candidates who lost. Trump’s position, as Smith described it, was that the outcome would have been different if the president himself had been running.

“He refused to accept that,” Smith continued. “His attitude is that the candidates were not that great. If it were him that was running, this would not have happened. That's his mentality.”

Smith disagreed with Trump’s assessment and argued that Americans used the midterms to express dissatisfaction with his presidency. He specifically pointed to voters’ perception that Trump appeared distracted and detached.

“I think that he is somebody that is convinced his way is what it is. I just don't agree with him,” Smith said.

“I think the American people made a statement against what they were seeing from him in terms of him not having his eye on the ball and coming across as a bit detached in their eyes,” he added.

Smith also said Trump pushed back when the conversation turned to the Iran war and the effect of tariffs on voter sentiment and the economy. Their broad discussion did not leave the commentator persuaded by the president’s view of the midterms.

The ESPN personality also addressed speculation that Trump had offered him the White House press secretary position. Smith laughed off the idea, pointing to the affluent life that ESPN and Disney had provided him.

“That was absolutely hilarious,” Smith said. “Evidently, they don't know about the life that I live and the kind of affluence that ESPN and Disney have blessed me with.”

“I wouldn't take that pay cut for almost anything but the presidency,” he continued. “That ain't happening. Press secretary? Please.”

Smith, who has criticized both Democrats and Republicans, then turned his attention to the Democratic Party’s internal troubles. He warned that Democrats face a serious challenge because many voters see the party as divided, despite its familiar claims of being a big tent.

“I definitely think that right now, the Democrats have a challenge on their hands because clearly there's a lot of people out there that view the Democratic Party as a divided party,” he said. “Now they will tell you they're a very big tent and there's room for everybody, but I think that the progressive left has shown you there isn't room for everybody.”

“If you're not willing to capitulate to their desires, their wishes and their ideological beliefs 100%, then they got a problem with you,” Smith added.

Smith also criticized Democrats who have declined interviews while expressing gratitude that Trump agreed to speak with him. Though Smith sharply disagreed with Trump’s refusal to accept responsibility, he credited the president for answering his questions directly and not avoiding the discussion.

“[Trump] was just very rigid and immovable in his thinking that it was blown by the people who lost and that the candidates on the Republican side simply were not good enough. It was not about him,” Smith said.

“I give him credit,” he continued. “I asked a question, and he answered, and he didn't run from anything.”

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