Overview
- Smith attended a private White House dinner that President Trump hosted on Oct. 15 with Bill Maher and Kid Rock and has since publicly described the meeting.
- He says he went to press three policy items—funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities, unemployment for Black women, and concerns about the Protect College Sports Act—and that he pushed back on Trump about foreign policy and economic claims.
- Smith reported that phones were banned at the dinner, recounted Trump telling him to “wait” because he was “bringing trillions,” and said Trump called him days later to follow up on HBCUs; no independent record or formal commitments have been produced.
- Prominent journalists and commentators sharply criticized Smith’s choice to attend, with The View cohost Ana Navarro refusing such meetings and Jemele Hill calling the effort a “dummy mission,” while hosts on multiple programs pressed Smith for answers.
- The episode has deepened debate over private, off‑the‑record access to the president, increasing calls for on‑the‑record forums to verify claims and for clear evidence that such meetings yield concrete policy changes ahead of the midterm season.