Stephen A. Smith ‘Educates’ Joy Behar on What a Mandate Means

In a fiery exchange on The View, Stephen A. Smith took the opportunity to “educate” Joy Behar on what a political mandate really means, specifically in reference to President Trump’s victory in the 2020 election. Behar, who had questioned the legitimacy of Trump’s claim to a mandate, pointed out that Trump won by a slim margin—just 1.5% of the popular vote, one of the smallest margins in history—and that he didn’t even win a majority of voters.

Smith, however, quickly shot down Behar’s criticism. “It is a mandate, and I’m going to explain why,” Smith said, asserting that his argument was based on facts, not political allegiance. “The man won every swing state,” he continued, highlighting the importance of those key battleground states in securing a win. Smith also pointed out that Trump’s voter turnout had increased among important demographic groups, including African Americans, Latinos, and young voters. According to Smith, these shifts were significant and indicative of broad support.

He went on to add, “89% of the counties shifted to the right,” further emphasizing the breadth of Trump’s victory in various regions of the country. While Behar may have had her doubts, Smith’s passionate defense of Trump’s mandate—based on the strength of his performance in key areas—was enough to spark a lively debate.

As the exchange unfolded, it became clear that Smith wasn’t interested in simply defending Trump, but rather in reinforcing his point about what truly constitutes a mandate in a democracy: securing critical victories in swing states and expanding voter outreach across diverse communities. Whether or not you agree with Trump’s policies, Smith made the case that the 2020 election results were a testament to a broader base of support, despite the popular vote deficit.

In the end, Smith’s robust explanation left little room for rebuttal, highlighting the complexities of interpreting election results and the factors that truly define a political mandate.