Charles Barkley is a national treasure and there is a reason why fans say, ‘protect this man at all costs.’ If anything Barkley is known for, apart from his greatness on the basketball court, it is his courage to speak his mind. He has gained a lot of love for his honesty but has also paid the price for it sometimes. Chuck lost his friendship with his best friend, Michael Jordan, for his outspoken, no-filter views. He has also been one of those people who has criticized the former President of America, Donald Trump for his views.
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During an interview in 2018, Barkley went on to say that he felt ‘disgusted’ by Trump’s election as President. However, this was not the case always as the former Suns’ star was once quoted saying that the kids should strive to become like Donald Trump and not him.
If you think Charles Barkley is beloved only for his outspoken personality, that is just half the story. He is excellent with kids and the kids love to be around him. Being one of the big names in basketball, he loves signing autographs for kids and is often seen holding funny conversations with them. Chuck has previously expressed his disappointment with any celebrity who charges for autographs, “Anyone Who Charges for Autographs Is an A**hole.”
Charles Barkley’s absurd reason to be like Donald Trump
In an article in 1991, Michael Wilbon writes that the 76ers star was playing with two kids after a game. When one of the boys, around 6 years old, sitting in Barkley’s lap said that he wanted to be like him, Barkley said, “Naaaaw, you want to be like Donald Trump, because he gets all the best babes.” Even if what Barkley said was just in jest, his reason to follow Donald Trump might not be well taken by many, considering he was talking to a 6-year-old.
However, his views have changed and matured over the span of decades. But with the same honesty and outspoken personality. While he wanted kids to become Trump to get women, he has transitioned to being more responsible with his words.
Barkley once remembered Mohammad Ali’s words, ‘If you are the same person in your 50s as you were in your 20s, you haven’t improved at all.’
Although Barkley is not a big supporter of the former President of America, he wasn’t always a critic of him either. But now things have changed, and he leaves no chance to criticize Trump. Taking shots at voters, Barkley once sarcastically said, “We let the fans vote… look what happened last time they got to vote for President,” referring to fans should no longer account for 50 percent of the NBA All-Star game vote.
Barack Obama’s election had Charles Barkley in tears
Barkley recalled the first time he met Obama. He remembered that Obama had all the qualities to be a great President, but he was skeptical that he would ever be elected President. Coming from the South and having seen the extent of racism, the NBA analyst never believed that a black man would ever become President in his lifetime.
Chuckster also recalled that the first time he heard about Obama’s election, he had tears in his eyes in disbelief and for a new hope.
