Billionaire Mark Cuban recently proposed that he run in the next presidential election with former NBA star Charles Barkley as his vice president.
During a conversation on “The Steam Room” podcast with Barkley and Ernie Johnson, Cuban addressed the growing division in American politics and speculated on how the nation could foster more productive debates.
“It takes somebody in my mind that will go out there and just talk to anybody, like Charles!” Cuban said.
“Charles can talk to anybody and put himself in any circumstance and get along with everybody, and I think that’s what we need.”
Mark Cuban says he’d win the Presidency with Charles Barkley as VP… 🤦♂️🤦♂️ pic.twitter.com/CZDj01FeZG
— American AF 🇺🇸 (@iAnonPatriot) December 4, 2024
Johnson didn’t shy away from asking Cuban if he would actually run with Barkley for the presidency.
“Yes, absolutely,” he responded. “We would win running away. No question about it.”
Barkley chimed in as well, adding, “We’d definitely win. Running away.”
While Cuban has expressed support for Kamala Harris this cycle, he recently made waves for comments about President-elect Donald Trump on “The View.”
Cuban remarked that Trump habitually avoids “strong, intelligent women,” arguing, “It’s just that simple. They’re intimidating to him.”
“He doesn’t like to be challenged by them, and, you know, Nikki Haley will call him on his nonsense with reproductive rights and how he sees and treats and talks about women,” he continued. “I mean, he just can’t have her around. It wouldn’t work.”
However, Cuban later walked back these remarks after he was lambasted by the media, clarifying his stance in a social media post.
“It’s part of politics, it was my mistake, and I apologized for it. I certainly wasn’t saying anything negative about anyone supporting Trump,” he explained.
When I said this during the interview, I didn’t get it out exactly the way I thought I did. So I apologize to anyone who felt slighted or upset by my response. As I said, it wasn’t about trump voters, supporters or employees. Current or former
And, I set myself up for the 6… https://t.co/u0BNmrHiaL
— Mark Cuban (@mcuban) November 1, 2024
Cuban admitted that his initial statements weren’t articulated as he intended. “When I said this during the interview, I didn’t get it out exactly the way I thought I did.”
“So I apologize to anyone who felt slighted or upset by my response. As I said, it wasn’t about Trump voters, supporters or employees. Current or former and, I set myself up for the [six second] soundbite. No excuses. Can’t nail every interview,” he elaborated.
Although Cuban appeared unfazed by criticism, he reflected on the broader issue of divisive commentary in political discourse.
“My skin is thick enough. What bothers me though is that so many of the comments or media, in support of, or against me, has some level of insult attached to it. Not just here. But everywhere,” he remarked.
“I’m not blaming anyone. We are where we are. Here’s hoping that changes at least a little bit in a week.”
Cuban tried to wrap the ordeal in a lighter tone, joking, “I have to add that all the AI memes of me with the long hair crack me up. So there is a positive!”
Meanwhile, Charles Barkley didn’t hold back as he criticized the Democratic Party for its poor strategies and Kamala Harris’ defeat in the 2024 election against Trump.
Sir Charles Barkley on 2024: “I just want to say this to the Democrats…Do me this favor: shut the f**k up! When you win, you get to say what you want to. When you lose, you need to shut the hell up.” pic.twitter.com/6PCCY3riMD
— Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) November 20, 2024
Appearing on his podcast, Barkley began by congratulating Trump on his electoral victory. “I wish him nothing but the best, but we lost,” Barkley said bluntly.
He made it clear he doesn’t believe everyone supporting Trump aligns with certain accusations against them.
“I don’t think everybody who voted for Trump is racist or whatever,” he shared. “I’m not a fan of the guy, but he’s the president. I’m gonna have to respect the office.”
Barkley extended his wishes directly to Trump, saying, “I wish President-elect Donald Trump nothing but the best, because, hey, he won the race fair and square.”
But his takeaway was clear, “I hope that he realized that 71 million people voted for her and do the best for the American people, plain and simple.”
The 11-time NBA All-Star shifted his attention to the Democratic Party, blaming them for Harris’ loss.
“But we lost. And I just want to say this to the Democrats – which I’m an Independent who voted Democratic. Do me this favor, shut the f*** up! When you win, you get to say what you want to. When you lose, you need to shut the hell up,” Barkley ranted.
Barkley spoke harshly about the excuses he heard from Democrats regarding their defeat, particularly criticizing the notion that President Joe Biden’s presence in the race was to blame.
“We lost because we had no game plan,” Barkley insisted. “We still haven’t solved the immigration problem, have no viable answers, never addressed inflation.”
“Bringing all these stupid stars out to rally the vote, what was that? Hey, I love Beyoncé. That ain’t gonna make me vote a certain type of way. Cardi B, I like Cardi B. That ain’t gonna make me vote a certain way,” he added.
Acknowledging his support for Harris, Barkley expressed frustration with her campaign approach.
“Kamala should have had a better game plan going forward, instead of bringing celebrities around,” he remarked, noting that “people want solutions.”
Reflecting on the results and lessons, Barkley commented, “I voted for Kamala. But like I said, we didn’t win.”
He doubled down on where the blame lies, stating, “It’s all our faults for not having a game plan. We’re not having concerts and rallies. People want solutions. They want money in their pocket. They want the border secure.”
Barkley delivered one final rebuke to Democrats, declaring, “You guys lost because y’all stupid. Come up with solutions.”