Mark Cuban is punching the air right now.
Mark Cuban, billionaire entrepreneur and campaign surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris, stirred up controversy earlier this week when he publicly congratulated Donald Trump on winning the 2024 presidential election. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Cuban wrote, “Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square. Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed.”
This unexpected praise for Trump came just days after Cuban appeared on ABC’s “The View,” where he made some disparaging comments about the former president’s treatment of women. Cuban claimed that Trump avoids surrounding himself with “strong, intelligent women,” and suggested that he wouldn’t be able to handle Nikki Haley on his campaign due to her willingness to challenge him on issues like reproductive rights. “He can’t have her around. It wouldn’t work,” Cuban asserted.
The backlash was swift, with many conservatives pushing back on Cuban’s comments. Cuban, realizing his misstep, quickly walked back his remarks. He apologized for the comment, saying it was a mistake and that he certainly wasn’t attacking anyone who supports Trump. Cuban further clarified that his intention was to explain why Haley, a former governor and UN ambassador, wasn’t more prominent on the Trump campaign trail. He also invoked his wife, Tiffany Stewart, saying that she didn’t take issue with his comments, and that he often makes mistakes in interviews.
Despite Cuban’s attempt at damage control, his comments raised questions about his understanding of the strong women who have worked with Trump over the years. The former president has had numerous capable women in his orbit, including his daughter Ivanka Trump, former Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, and former senior advisor Kellyanne Conway. Trump himself has praised women for their contributions to his success, including his wife, Melania Trump, whose memoir became a best-seller and continues to captivate audiences with her hard work and dedication.
Cuban’s comments also fail to acknowledge the increasing support Republicans are receiving from female voters. According to NBC News exit polls from the 2024 midterm elections, 44% of women voted for Republican candidates, marking an increase from the previous election cycle. This shift reflects a growing recognition among women that the Republican Party stands for personal freedom, economic opportunity, and strong national security—values that resonate deeply with women across the country.
In the end, Mark Cuban’s remarks seem to have backfired. His initial praise for Trump was a rare moment of clarity, but his subsequent comments about women and Trump’s campaign highlight just how out of touch some Democrats remain with the evolving political landscape, especially when it comes to recognizing the importance of women’s voices in conservative circles.