The former NBA MVP, now a popular sports analyst, emphasized that personal politics should not interfere with the tradition of championship-winning teams visiting the White House. Barkley, known for his humor and bold opinions, discussed this issue on TNT’s The Steam Room podcast.

Despite disagreeing with President Trump on certain matters, Barkley stated that he would still show respect to the office and its occupant. He expressed frustration over teams refusing the visit, questioning when the country reached a point where personal dislike for the president led to rejecting such an iconic tradition.