{"id":687988,"date":"2026-03-30T13:40:17","date_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/687988\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T13:40:17","modified_gmt":"2026-03-30T13:40:17","slug":"charles-barkley-goes-off-script-in-march-madness-to-call-out-trump-disgrace","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/687988\/","title":{"rendered":"Charles Barkley Goes Off-Script In March Madness To Call Out Trump \u2018Disgrace\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Charles Barkley<\/a> had more than basketball on his mind during CBS\u2019 March Madness<\/a> broadcast on Sunday.<\/p>\n

The analyst pivoted to President Donald Trump<\/a>\u2019s immigration crackdown after a feature on University of Connecticut star Alex Karaban, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Eastern Europe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to be very careful with my words right now. Because this is a really touchy subject for me,\u201d Barkley said. \u201cI love that kid and his family, but the way some of these other immigrants are getting treated in our country right now is a travesty and a disgrace.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think there\u2019s a difference between amazing immigrants and criminal immigrants, and I think what\u2019s going on in our country \u2014 what we\u2019re doing to some of these amazing immigrants \u2015 is really unfortunate and it\u2019s really sad.\u201d <\/p>\n

He continued, \u201cAnd that\u2019s a great immigrant story \u2014 we have a lot of great immigrant stories out there, whose stories need to be told. But some of the stuff that\u2019s happening to immigrants in our country right now is really unfortunate and is really unfair. But immigrants built this country, and we should admire them and respect them.\u201d<\/p>\n

Host Nate Burleson, appearing moved by the basketball Hall of Famer\u2019s words, said, \u201cChuck, I love you, bro.\u201d<\/p>\n

“The way some of these other immigrants are getting treated in our country right now is a travesty and a disgrace… I think what\u2019s going on in our country, what we\u2019re doing to some of these amazing immigrants, is really unfortunate and it\u2019s really sad.” – Charles Barkley on CBS pic.twitter.com\/uEllZpD57u<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Barkley made his comments on a weekend in which Americans again took to the streets in \u201cNo Kings\u201d rallies<\/a> to protest Trump\u2019s mistreatment of immigrants, war in Iran and other issues.<\/p>\n

Democrats<\/a> are holding their ground during the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security to extract limitations on the scope and severity of ICE operations. Two Americans have been killed by federal agents during ICE operations. <\/p>\n

Barkley also flexed his candor<\/a> during last year\u2019s NCAA Tournament on matters not entirely related to hoops.<\/p>\n

As for Karaban, his team advanced to the Final Four with a dramatic victory over Duke<\/a>. The Huskies will play Illinois in one national semifinal on Saturday, while Arizona and Michigan will meet in the other.<\/p>\n