Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and owner of the Dallas Mavericks, has found himself at the center of controversy following comments made during an appearance on ABC’s The View. On Thursday, Cuban claimed that former President Donald Trump is “never” surrounded by “strong, intelligent women,” remarks that ignited outrage among female supporters of Trump.
The Comments That Sparked Fury
Cuban’s statements, made in the context of a broader discussion about Trump’s interactions with women, included pointed criticism of the former president’s ability to engage with strong female figures. “They’re intimidating to him. He doesn’t like to be challenged by them,” Cuban stated. He specifically mentioned Nikki Haley, suggesting that her presence would disrupt Trump’s comfort zone, asserting, “He just can’t have her around. It wouldn’t work.” These comments came in the wake of President Joe Biden referring to Trump supporters as “garbage,” further intensifying the political climate.
Trump Campaign Responds
Cuban’s comments quickly drew sharp responses from Trump supporters. The official Trump campaign account on X (formerly Twitter) described Cuban’s remarks as “disgusting,” amplifying the backlash from the MAGA community. In a direct response on his platform, Truth Social, Trump labeled Cuban “a really dumb guy,” contending that he surrounds himself with “the strongest of women.” Trump emphasized his appreciation for all women, stating, “With the understanding that ALL women are great, whether strong or not strong. This guy is such a fool.”
MAGA Supporters Fire Back
The backlash against Cuban extended beyond social media. Kayleigh McEnany, former White House press secretary, called Cuban’s comments “profoundly offensive.” On Fox News, she asserted her identity as a strong woman, emphasizing that her colleagues in the Trump administration were also formidable.
In a bold statement, Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene released a video in a gym, asserting that Cuban suffers from “low testosterone” and is intimidated by “strong, intelligent women like me.” Other supporters echoed this sentiment, with activist Laura Loomer sharing a photo with Trump and declaring, “I am a strong, intelligent woman who supports President Trump!”
Public Reaction and Criticism
The public reaction to Cuban’s remarks was swift and vocal. Many netizens expressed their outrage on social media, with one user on X stating, “That’s so demeaning.” Another user responded, “This is truly despicable. I’d challenge him to debate every woman on team Trump. They’d destroy him.” Others felt insulted by the implication that female Trump supporters lacked strength and intelligence, with one user exclaiming, “So not only are we Nazi garbage, our women are not strong and intelligent. F**k these people!!!”
DISGUSTING: Top Kamala surrogate Mark Cuban says no “strong, intelligent women” support President Trump.
They’re now openly attacking the millions of strong, intelligent women fighting alongside President Trump every day to Make America Great Again.
Will @KamalaHQ disavow? pic.twitter.com/5sPihbzJ8t
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) October 31, 2024
Cuban Attempts to Clarify
Following the backlash, Mark Cuban sought to clarify his comments in a statement on social media. “This is what I said during a conversation about why Nikki Haley was not active in his campaign,” he explained. He acknowledged knowing “many strong, intelligent women voting for Trump, including in my extended family,” asserting that he was not implying that female voters are not capable. Cuban added, “I know he has worked with strong, intelligent women, like Elaine Chao, Kellyanne Conway, Ivanka Trump, and many others,” but reiterated his belief that Trump is uncomfortable being challenged publicly.