Mark Cuban, the billionaire entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks owner, has offered his take on Elon Musk’s relationship with former President Donald Trump, painting a picture of a power dynamic driven by ambition rather than shared ideology. During an interview with Brian Tyler Cohen, Cuban pointed to the stark contrast between Musk’s customer base and Trump’s stances on issues like climate change and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Cuban, known for his outspoken political views, believes Musk’s support for Trump is fueled by a desire for influence, not necessarily shared values. “Elon’s one smart guy right and I know he believes he’s much smarter than Donald Trump. You can tell there were times particularly as they talked about the environment and nuclear, and DEI… I could just see Elon rolling his eyes at that time,” Cuban said, hinting at a perceived disconnect between Musk’s personal beliefs and his public support of Trump.
“If you’re the wealthiest person in the world and…you’re the Puppet Master of the president, the most powerful person in the world, oh my God, that’s about as intoxicating. That is the definition of power corrupts, but absolute power corrupts absolutely,” Cuban added, suggesting that Musk finds the power to influence the president more appealing than the potential negative impact on his businesses.
Cuban and Musk have been publicly sparring on a variety of issues, from DEI to political endorsements. Recently, Musk responded to a post on X (formerly Twitter) that seemed to mock Cuban, calling him an “idiot who thinks he’s a genius.” Cuban, a vocal supporter of Vice President Kamala Harris, has also challenged Musk to debate Harris’ economic policies, offering to share his own views on Trump in return.
This latest exchange highlights the ongoing tension between these two powerful figures, with Cuban’s comments offering a glimpse into the complexities of Musk’s political maneuvering and his relationship with the former president.
