Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban ignited a firestorm of criticism after suggesting former President Donald Trump doesn’t surround himself with “strong, intelligent women” during an October 31, 2024 appearance on “The View.”
Cuban, a campaign surrogate for Vice President Kamala Harris, faced immediate backlash when he suggested that Donald Trump is never seen with strong, intelligent women, suggesting that these women intimidate him. Cuban added that Trump avoided being challenged by such women and highlighted Nikki Haley as someone who would confront Trump on issues like reproductive rights and his views on women, making her presence incompatible with him.
The “Shark Tank” star’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from Republican leaders, including Rep. Elise Stefanik, who called Cuban’s remarks a “sexist disgrace.” Stefanik criticized Democrats for, in her view, openly showing disdain for Americans. She referenced a recent incident where President Joe Biden allegedly referred to 250 million Americans as “garbage” and pointed to Cuban’s comments.
In a video statement, Stefanik expressed pride in her achievements as the highest-ranking woman in the U.S. Congress. She highlighted her historic election as the youngest woman ever elected to Congress at the time and her senior roles on the House Armed Services and Intelligence Committees. Stefanik emphasized her support for Trump, stating that she will vote for and endorse him.
In a subsequent radio interview with conservative host Martha Zoller, Cuban admitted his comments were poorly expressed. “I probably should have given examples,” he said, listing prominent Republican women like former GOP strategist Kellyanne Conway, former Democratic congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, and Linda McMahon, who have worked with Trump. During the radio segment, Cuban acknowledged that Gabbard had appeared with Trump at multiple events, including a National Guard conference and a rally in North Carolina.
Cuban’s attempt to contain the growing controversy included a series of clarifications on social media. He acknowledged that he knows many “strong, intelligent women” who support Trump, including members of his own family. He provided additional examples of prominent conservative women like former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who had worked with Trump, though he maintained his position that Trump dislikes being publicly challenged.
The billionaire’s apology came with a caveat. He described the controversial segment as “a six-second soundbite” and admitted that he “can’t nail every interview.” His attempts to distance himself from the remarks included providing an expanded list of conservative women he considers intelligent. Still, critics accused him of offering “a bunch” of excuses rather than a genuine apology.
Trump responded to Cuban’s remarks by calling him a “really dumb guy” and asserting that he surrounds himself with the “strongest of women.” The former president’s response highlighted his ongoing efforts to appeal to women voters, particularly in swing states where polling shows a significant gender gap.
The exchange between the two billionaires occurs against the backdrop of reported gender disparities in polling, with Harris showing stronger support among women in swing states. At the same time, Trump maintains stronger backing from male voters. Political analysts note that Trump has frequently engaged in public disputes with prominent female politicians, including Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi. However, the impact of these interactions on voter preferences remains unclear.