Former basketball star turned sports commentator turned CNN host Charles Barkley called former President Donald J. Trump’s supporters “a small group of crazy people” Wednesday night. .
Barkley said on his weekly show “King Charles,” which he co-hosts with “CBS Morning” anchor Gayle King, that he was concerned about Trump’s refusal to explicitly say in a Fox News interview that he would not become a dictator. He said there was. Except for his first day in office.”
Barkley, whose CNN show debuted last week to low ratings, said he was concerned that Trump would focus more on retaliation against the media and political opponents than on the economic concerns of Americans.
“I’m not a big fan of Trump. I’m not. Because, like I said, it’s the president of the United States. It’s not for a small group of crazy people,” Barkley said. he said.
When pressed that Trump supporters might object to that label, Barkley doubled down on his comments. “I call them that because that’s what they are,” he said. “They’re crazy. They’re like your drunk friends. It’s like when your friend gets drunk you can’t say anything to him.”
Barkley’s comments about Trump’s political base, which currently holds a sizable share of the Republican Party, stand out given CNN’s recent efforts to broaden its appeal and appeal to conservative viewers. Ta.
Under former CEO Chris Licht, the network focused on including on air perspectives from analysts and subjects across the political spectrum, including more Republican officials and conservative commentators. I put it. Licht was fired from the station in June and replaced in October by former New York Times and BBC director-general Mark Thompson.
Barkley has been a sports commentator for more than 20 years and considers himself an independent. Many media sources say CNN Worldwide, which has continued to provide fiercely critical coverage of the Trump administration under the leadership of former president Jeff Zucker, is looking to move Richt to attract new viewers. It was part of the strategy.
Barkley, who retired from professional basketball in 2000, had entertained the idea of entering politics, perhaps running for governor of Alabama, but ultimately dismissed that possibility.
He has recently criticized both Trump and President Biden. In October, he said on his Max streaming show that he doesn’t think Trump “represents politicians or decency or anything like that,” while he thinks Biden is too old to run again. said.
“I don’t feel very good about either,” Barclay said.
In the past, widespread criticism of Mr. Trump’s supporters has sparked flare-ups. Late in the 2016 campaign, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called many of Trump’s supporters “a bunch of deplorables.” Trump and her fellow Republicans seized on the remarks to paint her as out of touch with voters.
CNN will host two Republican primary debates next month ahead of the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary.
The Trump campaign did not respond to requests for comment.