NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley has never been one to shy away from speaking his mind, and his latest remarks center on the growing trend of championship-winning teams declining White House visits due to political differences. Barkley believes that teams should uphold the tradition of visiting the White House, regardless of their stance on the sitting president.

“I don’t care who the president is. He’s the President of the United States,” Barkley said. “It’s bothered me, the last 10 years, they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not going because this certain person is president.’ Dude, it’s the President of the United States.”

Barkley, known for his candid and often controversial opinions, expressed his disappointment with the increasing division in the country. He acknowledged that while people may disagree with certain political figures, showing respect to the office of the presidency should remain a priority.

“Even though I disagree with President Trump on some things, if I met him, I would still give him the respect and dignity he deserves. We can disagree, but it bothers me when these teams don’t want to go to the White House. I’m just disappointed… we got so divided,” he continued.

Over the past decade, multiple teams across various sports leagues have declined White House invitations, often citing political disagreements. The trend became especially prominent during the presidencies of Barack Obama and Donald Trump, with several high-profile athletes publicly refusing to attend. Barkley, however, sees this as a step in the wrong direction.

“Where did we get to as a country when we’re like, ‘We’re not going to the White House, we don’t like who’s in there.’ That’s just stupid,” he concluded.

Charles Barkley says teams should still visit the White House and show respect to the president, regardless of who is in office

“I don’t care who the president is. He’s the President of the United States. It’s bothered me, the last 10 years, they’re like, ‘Well, I’m not going… pic.twitter.com/BEhoSYeLcy

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Barkley’s comments reflect a broader conversation about political polarization in sports. As athletes continue to use their platforms to voice political and social concerns, the debate over White House visits remains a divisive topic. Whether teams will heed Barkley’s call for unity and respect remains to be seen.