Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Republican Congressman from Texas, responded to NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley after his comments regarding former President Donald Trump, but especially to Black voters who consider supporting the ex-president in the run for president this year. In a recent public appearance, Barkley threatened to beat Black people if he saw them supporting the Republican frontrunner after Trump’s recent comments on the Black people from South Carolina speech to supporters.
Trump comments on Black people
“The mug shot, we’ve all seen the mug shot, and you know who embraced it more than anybody else?” Trump said in South Carolina. “The Black population. It’s incredible. You see Black people walking around with my mug shot, you know they do shirts,” he added. Trump’s obvious appeal to Black voters was celebrated by the crowd, but it backfired online as many suggested that Trump’s comments were not appropriate for someone who is running for U.S. President, not even him.
Charles Barkley comments and threats to Black voters
It’s a well-known fact that Charles Barkley is not a fan of Donald Trump, as he has repeated this on numerous occasions in the past. The NBA analyst and former Auburn star doesn’t support Donald, and he obviously has little patience for the former president’s recent remarks. During Barkley’s weekly CNN show with Gayle King, Barkley played a clip of Trump saying his mug shot appeals to Black voters. Then he fired the message.
“If I see a Black person walking around with a Trump mug shot, I’m gonna punch him in the face,” Barkley said. King suggested Barkley retract the statement, but the former NBA great doubled down on the comment even if he gets arrested for assault. “Oh, I mean that sincerely,” Barkley said. “I’m gonna bail myself out and go celebrate,” Barkley said. Barkley said it was a shot at all Black people.
“If I was at that (conference), I would have gotten up and walked out,” Barkley said. “That was an insult to all Black people. … It’s not a fair comparison. He’s a billionaire. He’s had a great life. He’s been President of the United States. To insult Black people who have been discriminated against all these years, to put them in the same category, I was just offended.”
Barkley comments sparks immediate reactions from Texas Congressman
Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Texas) took to social media to say Barkley fell “into the media’s trap.”
“Charles Barkley fell into the media’s trap by taking a 2-hour speech from President Trump out of context. One thing I can guarantee is when you see Wesley Hunt sporting “The Mugshot” Sir Charles won’t be punching this Combat Vet in the face,” he wrote on X.
Charles Barkley fell into the media’s trap by taking a 2 hour speech from President Trump out of context.
One thing I can guarantee is when you see Wesley Hunt sporting “The Mugshot” Sir Charles won’t be punching this Combat Vet in the face. pic.twitter.com/P27t0p0Ez2
— Wesley Hunt (@WesleyHuntTX) March 5, 2024
Despite criticism, Trump is now likely to face Biden in a rematch
Donald Trump will most certainly face Joe Biden in what appears to be a rematch in November. After Tuesday, Trump now focuses on the general election, as he and Biden dominated Super Tuesday, prompting Nikki Haley to suspend her campaign. Former President Donald Trump went one step further on Wednesday by calling for debates with President Joe Biden.
Read also: Swing states bring the victory and Trump leads Biden in each of them
“It is important, for the Good of our Country, that Joe Biden and I Debate Issues that are so vital to America, and the American People. Therefore, I am calling for Debates, ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, ANYPLACE! The Debates can be run by the Corrupt DNC, or their Subsidiary, the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). I look forward to receiving a response. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
