President Donald Trump has recently generated political shockwaves by suggesting that he might serve a third term in office.

While some Democrats have responded by proposing a hypothetical matchup against former President Barack Obama, one left-leaning observer is doubtful about Obama's chances.

Stephen A. Smith "not sure" Obama could beat Trump

According to Breitbart, that admission was made this week by ESPN television personality Stephen A. Smith on The Stephen A. Smith Show.

Smith acknowledged that he used to be confident of Obama's electoral chances against the current president, saying, "Once upon a time, I thought Barack Obama would smoke him."

Stephen A. Smith is highly skeptical that Barack Obama could defeat President Trump in a hypothetical race for a third term. He points out that the 44th President and his wife, Michelle, did everything in their power to get Kamala Harris elected, but their efforts backfired.… pic.twitter.com/GUfpUsi3pR

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) April 4, 2025

"I’m not so sure anymore," the sports commentator acknowledged before highlighting the results of last year's presidential election.

"It was Barack Obama that spoke on behalf of Kamala Harris. Michelle Obama certainly put forth her due diligence in doing the same," Smith pointed out.

Trump: "methods" exist to skirt 22nd Amendment

"Where did that get them? They lost the popular vote, lost the Electoral College vote, lost every swing state, lost the Senate, lost the House. I mean, damn, it’s L’s all over the place!" Smith declared.

Critics have been quick to point out how the Constitution's 22nd Amendment provides that "no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."

Nevertheless, Trump maintained that "there are methods [by] which you could do it" during an interview last weekend with NBC News' Meet the Press host Kristen Welker.

As the New York Post reported, Trump argued that one option could involve becoming J.D. Vance's vice-presidential running mate in 2028 and then having Vance resign after taking his oath of office. 

"It is far too early" to ponder 2028

Despite insisting that he was "not joking" about the prospect of a third term, the president said "it is far too early" to focus on the next election.

"I mean, I basically tell them we have a long way to go, you know, it’s very early in the administration. I’m focused on the current," he stated.

Nevertheless, Newsweek observed that Tennessee Republican Rep. Andy Ogles introduced a House joint resolution earlier this year which would alter the 22nd Amendment so as to allow a president to run for a third term.