NBA legend claims race to blame for Trump double standard

National PoliticsCharles Barkley suggested race is the reason for a double standard when it comes to Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)(AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File)By Howard Koplowitz | hkoplowitz@al.comOutspoken NBA legend Charles Barkley claimed Donald Trump isn’t suffering the same consequences as previous presidents for shocking remarks and actions because Trump has made it “comfortable to be racist” in America.Barkley, the NBA Hall of Famer and “Inside the NBA” cohost, suggested there is a double standard in how Trump’s behavior is judged.During an appearance on NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo’s “The Chris Cuomo Project” podcast, Barkley said there would have been more outrage if Barack Obama treated female reporters the same way Trump does. “Yeah. Can you imagine if President Obama said that to a white woman? If President Obama called a white woman ‘Miss Piggy,’ America would go be up in arms and be like, ‘Can you believe this dude said that?’” Barkley told Cuomo.Trump actually called Bloomberg reporter Catherine Lucey, “Piggy.” Lucey is white.Asked why that would be the case, Barkley said Trump is being tolerated because he is helping the rich.“I think that people are learning now that rich people really don’t care about America. They care about money, first and foremost. Like, he’s got all the billionaires, like, they they’re good cuz they’re making so much money. Like, I think that’s the main thing,” Barkley said.“But the one thing that makes me sad, Chris, I got to be honest with you. These people out here now ... to answer your question. You used to have to be quiet when you were racist. You don’t have to be quiet anymore,” Barkley said.“I think that’s why he can get he’s gotten away with more. Like, people who are racist, they feel confident and comfortable being racist. And there was a time you used to have to be able to hide it. They were always racist, but they used to be able to hide it. But he’s made it comfortable, and that’s why he’s able to get away with a lot more. A lot more,” he continued.Barkley suggested that Trump does not respect his office the same way his predecessors did.“Because I have never seen a president, whether I agree or disagree with them, that’s been more like, ‘No, you shouldn’t act like that. You’re the president.’ Like, there’s a decency and a dignity that you should have. Like, the Bushes, I never met the younger Bush, but I met the older Bush. Like, even if I didn’t agree with all their policies, they carried themselves in a way, like, even with President Obama, he carried themselves a way, like, that’s ‘I’m the president of the United States. I’ve got to carry myself like that.’ I have respect for the office,” Barkley said.Trump relentlessly targets GOP ‘friend’ — including leaking his phone numberTrump encounters big problem in urgent daylight saving time pleaNate Silver reveals the ‘biggest electoral story of 2026’ — and it’s bad news for Trump. White House criticized for child deaths and risks to children’s health from policy shiftsTrump gives update on his proposed $5,000 checks: ‘I never fail people’Howard Koplowitz is AL.com's Breaking & Trending Reporter for afternoons and nights. He has been with AL.com since 2015 and has served in a variety of roles, ranging from coverage of Donald Trump's first...