Mark Cuban has explained why he keeps getting into social media debates with Donald Trump supporters who disagree with his views.
Responding to a user on X, formerly Twitter, who suggested the Shark Tank entrepreneur was wasting his time by engaging with someone defending a Trump policy, Cuban wrote, “I like to talk to people on here that are extreme and disagree with me. I usually learn something.”
It came as part of a flurry of replies on the platform after Cuban questioned the former president’s statement to the Detroit News that he would “make Michigan successful again” through “the taxation of foreign nations.”
Many users told Cuban that Trump was referring to import tariffs. One such user who goes by Megan and whose X bio states “pronouns: Trump/won” wrote, “It’s called a tariff, Mark. Come on, how are you a businessman but don’t know what a tariff is?”
The billionaire responded by arguing that tariffs are imposed on foreign-made goods paid by the importing business, not by a foreign nation as Trump suggested. This prompted a user who goes by Zack Guzmán to say, “You are currently debating someone on economic policy who has “pronouns: Trump/won” in their Twitter bio. Don’t waste your time.”
Businessman Mark Cuban speaks after attending meetings at the White House in Washington. Cuban has said on x why he likes to debate ‘extreme’ supporters of Donald Trump.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Following Cuban’s response, Megan replied, “I wouldn’t consider myself extreme. Just very passionate about things that I believe in. I respect the fact that you’re a businessman, but that’s exactly what you are as a businessman. Making money is your thing. So if it affects corporations, it might affect your pockets. I just think that you’re overlooking Kamala Harris‘s Corporate Tax increase and what THAT can do for trickle down economics to consumers.”
Cuban has repeatedly critiqued Trump’s economic policy in recent months on X, and frequently interacts with detractors who defend the former president..
After Trump’s rally in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, on August 18, where Trump said he would expand his stance on tariffs on foreign countries, Cuban asked on X, “Any importers want to explain how they deal with tariffs on say food or agricultural products?”
In recent weeks, Cuban has also been vocal in showing support for the Harris campaign, and has shared details of purported conversations he had with Trump that led him to the belief that he shouldn’t be president.
He also showed support for Tim Walz’s teenage son after MAGA supporters mocked his emotional outburst during his dad’s speech at the DNC.
Cuban has been contacted by Newsweek for comment.
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