Charles Barkley rips politicians for intently dividing Americans: ‘Both parties suck’

Charles Barkley’s CNN show may have been short-lived, but that won’t stop the beloved NBA analyst from making his political thoughts known.

With Inside the NBA airing Monday afternoon on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, coinciding with Donald Trump’s second inauguration, Barkley took a moment to criticize the current state of America’s political divide.

“I think both parties suck. But I think they do a really good job of making us not like each other…I wish people would understand that politicians do a good job of making us fight with each other.” – Charles Barkley pic.twitter.com/Z6Q9z16cv1

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 23, 2025

“I wish that people were smarter, personally,” Barkley began. “I think these politicians – both parties – I think both parties suck. But I think they do a really good job of making us not like each other…Racism exists, always has, always will, unfortunately. But what America has become is rich people against poor people. And I wish people would understand that politicians do a good job of making us fight with each other. But it’s really rich people against poor people.

“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 liking each other. And until we address that, we’re never gonna be successful.”

While bickering politicians do little to support their claims of attempting to unite the country, often seeming more apt to turn citizens against each other, the way politics are covered on cable news and social media similarly remains a great divider.

Despite voting for Kamala Harris, Barkley went on to wish Trump “good luck” with the inauguration taking place while Inside the NBA was airing. Barkley attempted to convey the message that regardless of who you voted for, everyone (already inside the country) should be able to benefit if America does well.

“These politicians have screwed up our world, making you pick a team,” Barkley said. “And that’s unfortunate because I’m not for anybody’s team. I’m for everybody’s team.”