NBA commentator Charles Barkley revealed his top choices for the 2028 presidential ticket and was quickly dealt a reality check on social media.
The former professional basketball player was asked about his political picks, and his choices drew instant pushback from Democrats on X, where a clear pattern to the responses quickly emerged.
Barkley was asked by comedian and self-titled “street journalist” Adam Glyn about who he has eyes on for the 2028 presidential race.
“I like Governor Shapiro of Pennsylvania. I like [Maryland] Governor Wes Moore. Those are two guys I’m looking really closely, taking advantage of…because I want to support one of those guys,” he said.
Everyone loves Chuck until he talks politics
(Wes Moore is my dark horse as well) https://t.co/Y1rqInr71n
— Drake Bentley (@drake_bentley) June 9, 2026
“I love Josh Shapiro, and I love Wes Moore,” he reiterated.
“I hope Talarico can win down in Texas,” he added, referring to the Democratic nominee in the 2026 U.S. Senate election in Texas. “Those are the three people I’m looking at.”
Barkley went on to say that both the Republican and Democratic Parties are “awful” and he looks at a candidate as a “person” and not through the lens of politics, adding that those who label themselves as “conservative” or “liberal” are “full of sh*t.”
“When I hear that, I know that person’s not a good person. If you ever use the term conservative or liberal, you don’t want people to know about your stances,” he stated.
But it was Barkley’s presidential picks that posed the problem for Democrats, as a new USA Today op-ed noted that governors like Shapiro could actually win a general election, except for an inconvenient truth.
“Shapiro can win independents, and Republicans quietly dread the prospect of running against him,” wrote columnist Dace Potas.
“The obstacle is Shapiro’s faith and his stance on Israel. A meaningful share of the Democratic base will not back a Jewish candidate who supports Israel, and that alone could sink him in a presidential primary. It’s an uncomfortable reality for the party, but a real one,” he added.
Barkley’s 2028 presidential picks sparked plenty of social media reaction, where many gave the TV analyst a quick lesson on the bias in the loudest wing of the Democrat Party.
Apparently he hasn’t heard Democrats hate Jewish people and just nominated a Nazi tonight. https://t.co/J94OC7aOLr
— Just Mindy 🐊 (@just_mindy) June 10, 2026
I love chuck, but if he thinks the modern Dem party would ever nominate a Jew for president, I have a bridge I’d like to sell him.
— Jonathan Blackstone (@Hen263zz) June 10, 2026
He is truly unaware that democrats are Nazis who hate Jews.
— Jem from Jexium Island (@JexiumIslandJem) June 10, 2026
Wes Moore is a habitual liar, incompetent and is ruining the state. In other words, the perfect democrat.
— Big Red Dog (@Natty__Boh) June 11, 2026
Wes Moore is a clown. Shapiro is about as good as a Democrat that they can make.
— Brian Rairdon (@tennbrian1) June 10, 2026
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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