Charles Barkley has never been one to mince words, and with the midterm elections looming, the Hall of Famer is letting both parties have it. But when it comes to President Trump, the basketball icon is particularly fired up, zeroing in on what he calls Trump's worst trait.
During a recent appearance on The Chris Cuomo Project, Barkley, 63, didn't hold back. He first took aim at the Democratic Party's more progressive wing, dismissing ideas like abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and embracing socialism as "stupidest (expletive) I've ever heard."
"What are we gonna do without cops? Yeah. What are we gonna do without prisons? Like, I've seen some of these politicians, I'm like, this is the stupidest (expletive) ever. And a lot of— most of them, well, probably all of them have been Democrats," Barkley said.
But the former NBA star, who played from 1984 to 2000, didn't stop there. He acknowledged that reform is needed, especially when it comes to immigration. "ICE has to do a much better job, much better job. We need that. We can't just let people come across the border. But ICE has to do a better job. We need immigrants in this country. They're some of the most amazing, hardworking people in the world. But we need to get rid of the crooked immigrants," he explained.
However, it was his critique of President Trump that really grabbed headlines. Barkley didn't shy away from calling out what he sees as Trump's most damaging influence on the nation.
"I think that's one of the worst things about Trump. He's made it popular to be racist. There's no consequences for being racist now. It's like a lot of people are wearing it with a badge of courage," Barkley said.
He added, "He never denounces it. He should denounce it, but he's made it more acceptable to be racist."
Barkley's comments come as Trump continues to be a polarizing figure in sports and politics. Just recently, the president was booed at the Presidents Cup, a moment that stunned many golf fans. And while Trump's supporters remain fiercely loyal, Barkley isn't afraid to call out the president's behavior, even as he criticizes both sides of the aisle.
"I'm not a politician. I'm just a guy who loves this country and wants to see it do better," Barkley has often said. His willingness to speak his mind has made him a beloved figure in sports media, and his latest political commentary is sure to spark debate.
Whether you agree with Barkley or not, one thing is certain: he's not backing down from the fight, and he's not giving anyone a free pass.
