Mark Cuban, a billionaire entrepreneur, sparked considerable controversy during an appearance on “The View” on October 31, 2024. He suggested that former President Donald Trump does not associate himself with “strong, intelligent women,” drawing a wave of criticism.
As a campaign surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris, Cuban’s comments met with immediate disapproval, especially when he hinted that Trump might be intimidated by strong, intelligent women. Cuban further elaborated that Trump avoids being confronted by such women and cited Nikki Haley as an example of someone who would challenge Trump on issues such as reproductive rights and his views on women.
Republican leaders, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, sharply criticized the remarks made by the “Shark Tank” star. Stefanik referred to Cuban’s comments as a “sexist disgrace.” She accused Democrats of showing open contempt for Americans, citing a recent incident where President Joe Biden allegedly referred to 250 million Americans as “garbage” and linked it to Cuban’s comments.
Stefanik shared a video statement where she expressed pride in her accomplishments as the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. Congress, highlighting her historic election as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress and her senior roles on the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees. She reaffirmed her support for Trump, stating her intention to vote for and endorse him.
In a follow-up radio interview with conservative host Martha Zoller, Cuban conceded that his comments were not well articulated. “I probably should have given examples,” he admitted, naming notable Republican women like Kellyanne Conway, former Democratic representative Tulsi Gabbard, and Linda McMahon, all of whom have worked with Trump. Cuban also acknowledged that Gabbard had appeared with Trump at several events, including a National Guard conference and a rally in North Carolina.
In an attempt to control the escalating controversy, Cuban posted a series of clarifications on social media. He acknowledged knowing many “strong, intelligent women” who support Trump, including his own family members. He further mentioned other notable conservative women like former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao who had worked with Trump, but maintained his stance that Trump dislikes being openly challenged.
Cuban’s apology was accompanied by a disclaimer. He referred to the contentious segment as “a six-second soundbite” and confessed that it’s not possible to “nail every interview.” He tried to distance himself from the controversy by providing an extended list of conservative women he believes are intelligent. Critics, however, accused him of offering multiple justifications rather than a sincere apology.
Trump reacted to Cuban’s comments by labeling him a “really dumb guy” and asserted that he surrounds himself with the “strongest of women.”
The verbal exchange between the two billionaires took place against the background of reported gender disparities in polling. While Harris showed stronger support among women in swing states, Trump garnered stronger support from male voters. Political analysts highlighted Trump’s history of public disputes with prominent female politicians, including Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi, but the effects of these interactions on voter preferences remained uncertain.
