Mark Cuban, the left-leaning billionaire and prominent Kamala Harris campaign surrogate, took many by surprise early Wednesday morning after the election results were finalized.
Cuban, who had vocally criticized Donald Trump and served as a high-profile Harris supporter, tweeted his congratulations to the former president and Elon Musk, writing, “Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square. Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed.” Cuban’s message was particularly notable given his recent controversial comments about pro-Trump women, which had set off a firestorm of criticism just days before the election.
Congrats @realDonaldTrump. You won fair and square.
Congrats to @elonmusk as well. #Godspeed
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) November 6, 2024
Cuban’s remarks initially drew sharp backlash when, during an appearance on The View, he implied that Trump surrounded himself with women who were not “strong and intelligent.” This statement led to swift condemnation from pro-Trump groups, who saw it as a slight against the many female Trump supporters who identify as hardworking, independent-minded women.
Cuban later attempted to walk back his comments, saying his words had been misinterpreted and clarifying that he had not intended to insult women who support Trump. He even cited his wife, Tiffany Stewart, who he claimed understood the context of his remarks and saw no issue with them. However, the damage was done, and his follow-up apology did little to temper the backlash.
John Nolte of Breitbart News called Cuban’s apology a “non-apology,” asserting that Cuban had been candid on The View about his view of Trump supporters. According to Nolte, Cuban’s “explanation” only reinforced his dismissive attitude, echoing sentiments similar to those made by Joe Biden years earlier, who had called certain Americans “garbage” in what was perceived as a condescending tone.
Cuban’s attempt to smooth things over was met with criticism, with Nolte calling him “America’s Dumbest Billionaire” and suggesting Cuban’s comments simply reflected his real opinions.
Trump, characteristically quick to respond, poked fun at Cuban’s comments and threw in a jab about his golf skills—a lighthearted yet telling insult in a world where personal rivalries are often expressed over the golf course. Yet Cuban’s concession tweet, congratulating Trump and Musk, marked a clear shift in tone, signaling an acceptance of Trump’s victory and perhaps an attempt to mend bridges after his controversial remarks.
During his victory speech in Florida, Trump praised the women who had supported him, with special acknowledgment for his wife, Melania Trump, whose recently released memoir, Melania: A Memoir, became an unexpected bestseller. Trump’s acknowledgment of women’s contributions, along with his wife’s popularity, appeared to resonate with female voters. According to exit polls from NBC News, 44 percent of female voters backed Republican candidates, a modest but noteworthy increase from four years earlier. This suggests that Trump’s appeal among women remained intact and may even have grown despite the controversies he faced.
