Staff Reports
Former NBA star and current CNN host Charles Barkley has once again taken a swing at African American supporters of former President Donald Trump, calling anyone sporting Trump’s mug shot merchandise “a freaking idiot.” Barkley’s comments sparked a heated debate online after he stated that he would even “punch” a black person seen wearing Trump’s mug shot gear. Though he later clarified that he wouldn’t actually resort to physical violence, his extreme language raised eyebrows.
During a speech at the Black Conservative Federation’s gala in South Carolina, Trump suggested that his legal issues had actually attracted support from black voters, claiming he was “being discriminated against.” This prompted Barkley to slam Trump’s comparison of his legal battles to the struggles of the black community, leading him to label any black person endorsing Trump’s merchandise as “a freaking idiot.”
The merchandise in question features a photo of Trump released by Fulton County in Georgia after he was indicted and charged for his alleged role in the 2020 election results controversy. Trump has been using this image to sell various products, including T-shirts and coffee mugs, which Barkley finds particularly distasteful.
With the recent exit of former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley from the presidential race and Trump’s strong performance in Super Tuesday primaries, the likelihood of him securing the Republican presidential nomination has surged. Despite Barkley’s controversial remarks, it seems that Trump’s influence and support within the party continue to grow, much to the frustration of his outspoken critics.
