Charles Barkley rips into Donald Trump after the former US President claimed black people 'embraced' his infamous police mugshot... and threatens to PUNCH anyone 'walking around' with it: 'I was just offended'

NBA legend Charles Barkley has launched a scathing attack on Donald Trump after the former US President claimed his infamous police mugshot has been 'embraced' by black voters in America.

On the eve of last week's South Carolina primary, in which he easily swept aside former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trump sparked controversy by suggesting he appeals more to the black community after his recent arrest for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia.

'When I did the mug shot in Atlanta, that mug shot is No. 1,' he said at the Black Conservative Federation's annual Honors Gala. 'You know who embraced it more than anyone else? The Black population.

'It's incredible. Black people walking around with my mugshots!'

Despite receiving applause for those comments, an incensed Barkley has taken aim at Trump for insulting black people, while even threatening to punch any black person showing off his infamous mugshot.

NBA legend Charles Barkley has launched a scathing attack on former President Donald Trump

Trump sparked controversy by suggesting he appeals more to the black community after his recent arrest for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Georgia

Speaking on his CNN show, Barkley accused Trump of insulting black people, while threatening to punch anyone showing off his mugshot

The 11-time NBA All-Star said on his and broadcaster Gayle King's CNN Show: 'First of all, I'm just gonna say this: if I see a black person walking around with Trump's mugshot, I'm [gonna] punch him in the face.'

King then interrupted to tell Barkley that he would get arrested himself for assault, he replied: 'I will bail myself out and go celebrate.'

Barkley then continued: 'If I was at that conference I would have got up and walked out. That was an insult to all black people. 

'To compare black history, when we've been discriminated against, to his plight - first of all he's a billionaire, and they're prosecuting him for stuff he did wrong.

'Well, some of the stuff is true. They did storm the capital, they did say that the election was stolen. Those aren't lies Gayle.

'But to compare it, I would have got up and walked out, because 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.'

Trump, who was cleared to run for President again on Monday after the Supreme Court unanimously banned states from excluding him from ballots, is expected to trounce closest-rival Haley in the running to secure Republican nomination.

Trump was cleared to run for President again on Monday after the Supreme Court unanimously banned states from excluding him from ballots

He is set to trounce closest-rival Nikki Haley in the running to secure Republican nomination

On the eve of Super Tuesday, when 15 states and one territory vote for who they want to take on Joe Biden in this year’s presidential election, the 77-year-old lauded the Supreme Court's reversal of his disqualification from Colorado's ballot.

However, Trump also quickly turned his attention to another big case before the justices by publicly lobbying for presidential immunity from prosecution.

'I have great respect for the Supreme Court. And I want to just thank them for working so quickly and so diligently and so brilliantly,' he said in Florida after the justices ruled in his favor by barring states from disqualifying candidates for federal office based on a constitutional provision concerning insurrection.

'And while we're on the subject - and another thing that will be coming up very soon will be immunity for a president.'

The Supreme Court in April is due to hear Trump's appeal of a lower court's ruling rejecting his claim of immunity from prosecution in a criminal case brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith involving Trump's actions intended to reverse President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory over him.

The court's decision not to schedule its arguments until the week of April 22 reduces the chances that a trial in the case brought by Smith could be finished before the election. The trial was previously scheduled to have begun this week.