Billionaire Mark Cuban issued an apology on X early Friday morning for his comments that may have offended female Trump supporters. Cuban expressed regret if anyone felt slighted or upset by his statement that implied President Trump is not often seen around strong, intelligent women. He clarified that his remarks were not directed at Trump voters, supporters, or employees, past or present.
Cuban acknowledged that his words were not articulated as intended and took responsibility for setting himself up for a soundbite that could be misconstrued. He emphasized that he offered no excuses and stated that he has thick skin to handle the backlash.
Prior to issuing a formal apology, Cuban attempted to clarify his initial comment, which was widely interpreted as derogatory towards women who support or collaborate with Trump. He explained that his statement was made in the context of discussing why Nikki Haley was not actively involved in Trump's campaign. Cuban highlighted that he personally knows many intelligent and strong women who support Trump, including within his own family.
Cuban further defended his position by acknowledging that Trump has worked with several strong and intelligent women, such as Elaine Chao, Kellyanne Conway, Ivanka Trump, and others. Despite this clarification, Cuban maintained his opinion that Trump does not appreciate being publicly challenged.