Get All Access for $5/mo

Mark Cuban Reveals He Was Once an Avid Trump Supporter: 'I Didn't Think He Had a Chance' The "Shark Tank" star spoke about his political preferences in an interview with Vivek Ramaswamy.

By Emily Rella Edited by Melissa Malamut

Key Takeaways

  • Mark Cuban revealed in an interview with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that he used to support former President Donald Trump prior to the 2016 election.
  • Cuban said that he appreciated that Trump wasn't a typical politician, but his opinion has since changed.

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Mark Cuban has been vocally opposed to Donald Trump's presidential campaign, but the billionaire wasn't always so critical of the former President — in fact, he used to support him.

During an interview with former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, Cuban revealed that he was a Trump supporter for a time in 2015, before the 2016 election.

Related: Mark Cuban Slams Kevin O'Leary on Social Media After TV Appearance

"I actually started off supporting Donald, and then I got to know him better," Cuban told Ramaswamy. "I was like, he's great; he's not a typical Stepford candidate. I thought that was a positive."

Cuban admitted that he didn't take the Trump campaign seriously when he began his support — and that added to its appeal. He said traditional politics needed a shake-up.

"I didn't think he had a chance, and so I just wanted to kind of, you know, screw things up in traditional politics that I'm not a fan of," he said.

Cuban then clarified that he no longer supports a second Trump term.

Related: Mark Cuban Offers Rare Praise to Elon Musk: 'Outstanding'

"He was unethical then, and he's unethical now," Cuban said. "You want somebody whose first inclination is not to do what's in their own best personal interest."

Last month, Cuban criticized his longtime rival and fellow billionaire, Elon Musk, after Tesla's CEO publicly endorsed Trump on X.

Cuban is a registered Independent but supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election and has recently shown support on social media for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

Related: Mark Cuban Says He's Received 'Multiple Questions' From Kamala Harris About Crypto

Emily Rella

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Business Solutions

Right Now, You Can Get More Than 310 Hours of IT Training for Just $50

Stay ahead in tech with the CompTIA Super Bundle.

Business News

Here's What the CPI Report Means for Your Wallet, According to JPMorgan and EY Experts

Most experts agree that there will be another rate cut next week.

Operations & Logistics

The Holidays Mean Vacation Time — But Disaster Can Still Strike. Is Your Crisis Plan Ready?

Holidays mean different working hours for companies and different schedules for employees that take off. Before you and your team enjoy some much deserved time off, it is important to put a crisis management plan in place so your business is ready to tackle any issue that crops up.

Starting a Business

How to Start a Freight Brokerage Business

Get your entrepreneurial destiny really moving by becoming a broker--matching shippers and transportation servicess--for the freight industry.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

After This 26-Year-Old Got Hooked on ChatGPT, He Built a 'Simple' Side Hustle Around the Bot That Brings In $4,000 a Month

Dhanvin Siriam wanted to build something that made revenue from ChatGPT, and once he did, he says, "It just caught on."