Controversial billionaire Mark Cuban has floated the idea of running for president with Charles Barkley after insisting the NBA legend is “someone America needs.”
Cuban, who was a surrogate for Kamala Harris before the Democratic candidate lost this month’s election, has been tipped to run for the White House in previous election cycles but has yet to throw his name in the hat.
During a performance op The Steam Room Podcast With Barkley and host Ernie Johnson, the Dallas Mavericks minority owner was asked about tribalism in American politics and how the country can have more amicable debates in the future.
Cuban responded, “It takes someone in my mind to go out and talk to everyone like Charles!
“Charles can talk to anyone, put himself in any situation and get along with anyone, and I think that’s what we need.”
Johnson then asked Cuban if he would consider running for president if Barkley were next to him.
Mark Cuban (left) has joined Charles Barkley (right) in proposing the idea of running for president
“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “We would win if we ran away. No doubt about it.’
Barkley also contributed saying, “We would win for sure. Run away.’
Amid his support for Harris, Cuban recently courted controversy when he claimed during an appearance on The View that Donald Trump never associates himself with “strong, intelligent women.”
‘It’s just that simple. They are intimidating to him,” he argued. “He doesn’t like to be challenged by them, and you know, Nikki Haley will call him out on his bullshit about reproductive rights and how he sees, treats and talks to women. I mean, he just can’t have her with him. It wouldn’t work.’
However, Cuban walked back these comments a few days later during an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com.
‘It’s part of politics, it was my mistake and I apologized for it. I certainly didn’t say anything negative about anyone who supported Trump,” he emphasized.
When asked what his wife of 22 years thought of his comments, Cuban added, “Tiffany watched the entire interview and had no problem with it. She knew what I was trying to say.
“She also knows that if I do hundreds of interviews, there will be a few that I mess up. I’ve botched many more Mavs interviews that got me fined by the NBA. So she’s kind of used to it,” he added, referring to when he owned the Mavericks.”
Cuban said America needs someone like Barkley to ease tension across the country
The Dallas Mavericks minority owner was a surrogate for Kamala Harris before the election
He was forced to apologize earlier this month after a controversial comment about Donald Trump
When he went to
“So I apologize to anyone who felt slighted or upset by my response. Like I said, it wasn’t about Trump’s voters, supporters or employees. Current or former, I prepared myself for the 6-second soundbite. No excuses. I can’t capture every interview.
‘My skin is thick enough. What bothers me, however, is that so many comments or media, supporting or opposing me, involve a certain degree of insult. Not just here. But everywhere.
‘I don’t blame anyone. We are where we are. I hope this changes at least a little bit within a week. In the spirit of joy… I have to add that all the AI memes of me with the long hair are driving me crazy. So there is something positive!’ he added.