Charles Barkley urges NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL champions to visit President Donald Trump at White House

TNT panelist Charles Barkley has often been critical of Donald Trump, even as he's critiqued Democrats for their shortcomings

Charles Barkley urges NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL champions to visit President Donald Trump at White House

Charles Barkley, Donald Trump

Charles Barkley has long been viewed as one of the most level-headed liberal media personalities. The NBA legend made his name by being a brash, unapologetic player during his heyday. But ever since his retirement in 2000 and after joining TNT in the studio, Barkley has been hitting nothing but home runs. He’s always viewed as the level-headed uncle you can confide your worst fears to.

Barkley is also unafraid of courting controversy and for speaking his mind irrespective of how people view him. It’s why a lot of people have been asking him to run for Governor of Alabama, both from the Republican as well as Democratic sides. However, the Chuckster stays apolitical as far as he can, knowing how the temperature of the country is volatile enough for people to act on his words.

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Barkley proved his bullet-proof credentials with his stray dig at President Trump after the recently-concluded Four Nations Tournament. The Chuckster has often been critical of Donald Trump, even as he’s critiqued Democrats for their shortcomings. But his latest comments on The Steam Room podcast with TNT co-host Ernie Johnson can’t have gone unnoticed.

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Barkley took aim at teams like the Golden State Warriors, Philadelphia Eagles and others who refused to visit President Trump at the White House – a long-standing tradition for victors of the 4 major league tournaments in America. According to him, it is juvenile behavior to let political affiliations stand in the way of a felicitation. He also feels that the dignity and authority of the Presidential position is at stake:

I don’t care who the president is. He’s the President of the United States. It’s bothered me, the last 10 years, they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not going because this certain person is president.’ Dude, it’s the President of the United States. Even though I disagree with President Trump on some things, if I met him, I would still give him the respect and dignity he deserves. We can disagree, but it bothers me when these teams don’t want to go to the White House. I’m just disappointed…we got so divided. Where did we get to as a country when we’re like, ‘We’re not going to the White House, we don’t like who’s in there.’ That’s just stupid.

Charles Barkley on The Steam Room Podcast

Charles Barkley and Donald Trump have a chequered history of exchanges

Throughout President Trump’s first tenure, he was subjected to ridicule by members from all factions of the media. The people were fed up by his constant childlike antics with the press, as well as his mercurial disposition. He was one of the hardest people to nail to a particular action, even if that seemed to be right in line with his character. Barkley himself wasn’t as proactive during this tenure, but he seemed to gain more confidence after President Biden took office.

Barkley went after black people who wore T-shirts with Donald Trump’s mugshots following the 45th president’s incarceration. He also lambasted Trump repeatedly, saying Trump’s boisterous, and sometimes churlish and hateful comments about various sections of society rubbed him the wrong way and caused him to vote for the Democrats.

Based on what we’ve seen and heard from both, Barkley certainly has a lot more dignity and composure than the 47th President of the United States. Barkley also has a lot more charisma, personality and virility than President Biden. Although he’s often stated that he has no desire for political power, a person with his drawing power would make for a magnificent president. After all, Trump has proven that political credentials hardly matter!