Dividedness is alive and well across the country, and NBA legend Charles Barkley blamed politicians for it.
On Monday, Barkley’s “Inside the NBA” aired on Martin Luther King Day, as Ernie Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny “The Jet” Smith discussed the significance of the day, which also coincided with the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
“I wish people were smarter, personally,” Barkley began. “I think these politicians – both parties – I think both parties suck. But I think they’re doing a really good job of making us not like each other.”
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College basketball analyst Charles Barkley in trouble before the championship game of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
Barkley, a former CNN host, then gave his answer on what America has “become.”
“Racism exists, always has, sadly unfortunately. It’s a disaster. But what America has become is rich people against poor people. And I wish people would understand that politicians are doing a good job of making us fighting with each other. But it’s really rich people against poor people,” Barkley said. “They try to make it about black, white, immigration, homosexuality and all these different things, but what it is is rich people making people not like each other. And Until we reassure ourselves, we will never succeed.”
Charles Barkley celebrates after winning the men’s gold medal game against Yugoslavia at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on August 3, 1996. (Manny Millan/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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“These politicians have screwed up our world, making you pick a team,” Barkley added. “And it’s unfortunate because I’m not for anyone’s team. I’m for everyone’s team.”
Barkley said he was “not a fan” of Trump and blamed Democrats for losing because they were “stupid.”
“We still haven’t solved the immigration problem… I never addressed inflation. Bringing in all these stupid stars to rally the vote, what was that? I love Beyoncé This won’t make me vote for a certain guy. Barkley said on “The Steam Room” podcast with his “NBA on TNT” co-host Ernie Johnson shortly after the election.
Former Phoenix Suns player Charles Barkley is seen at the Footprint Center in Phoenix on January 21, 2023. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA Today Sports)
“It’s all our faults that we don’t have a game plan. We don’t have concerts and rallies. People want solutions, they want money in their pocket, they want the border secure.”
