NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley sharply criticized several positions associated with Democratic politicians during a recent appearance on “The Chris Cuomo Project.”
Barkley, who has described himself as an independent and said he has voted Democratic most of the time, made clear that party loyalty would not stop him from criticizing ideas he opposes.
“Listen, I’m an independent who’s voted Democratic most of the time,” Barkley told Chris Cuomo.
He then pointed to calls involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, prisons, policing and socialism.
Barkley said he was unwilling to defend every Democratic position simply because he has frequently supported the party.
“You think that I’m gonna get on TV and kill my credibility saying every Democratic — like some of these people out here talking about no ICE, no prison,” Barkley said.
He also rejected socialist political framing.
“So using words like socialism, like no, I don’t believe in that,” he continued.
Barkley became even more direct when discussing proposals involving law enforcement.
“Wait, no, no cops. I think that’s some of the stupidest s*** I’ve ever heard,” he said.
The former NBA star questioned how society would function without police officers or prisons.
“What are we going to do without cops? What are we going to do without prisons?” Barkley asked.
He said many of the politicians he had seen advancing such ideas were Democrats.
Barkley then repeated his criticism, calling the positions some of “the stupidest s***” he had ever heard.
His remarks came during a broader conversation about politics, immigration, President Donald Trump and the problems Barkley sees within both major political parties. The podcast description itself characterized the discussion as covering “the Democratic Party’s problems” and Barkley’s refusal to “blindly defend either political side.”
Barkley also addressed immigration and ICE.
He said he believes immigration agents need to perform their jobs better but rejected the idea of weak border enforcement.
“We need immigrants in this country,” Barkley said.
He described immigrants as some of the hardest-working people in the world while arguing that people who commit crimes should be removed.
“But we need to get rid of the crooked immigrants,” he said.
Barkley also said he supports voter identification requirements.
His comments are consistent with positions he has expressed for years.
Barkley has repeatedly resisted fitting neatly into either major political party and has criticized both Democrats and Republicans.
He has previously spoken against efforts to defund police departments, arguing that communities still need law enforcement while also saying that officers who commit wrongdoing should be held accountable.
The latest interview came as Democrats continue debating the direction of the party ahead of the midterm elections.
Some Democratic candidates and Democratic socialist groups have supported sharply reducing ICE’s role, restructuring policing or pursuing broader socialist policies.
Those positions are not universally held across the Democratic Party, however, and Barkley’s criticism was directed at politicians and ideas he associates with its left wing rather than every Democratic elected official, per Trending Politics.
Barkley has described himself as politically independent and has said he dislikes rigid party loyalty.
Recent coverage of his political views noted that he has registered with different parties over the years before ultimately identifying as an independent.
His central message to Cuomo was that voting for Democrats in the past does not require him to defend every proposal associated with Democratic politicians.
Barkley said he is more interested in practical solutions than partisan allegiance.
And when it comes to eliminating police, prisons or ICE, he made his position unmistakable: those ideas do not have his support.
