- Mark Cuban said if he runs for president in 2020 it will probably be as a Republican˳
- On a scale of one to 10, Cuban said the likelihood of his run is a “four˳”
- If his wife supports him running for president, however, Cuban said that number improves to a “five˳”
Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban revealed in a Fox News interview that if he were to run for president in 2020, it would “probably” be as a Republican˳
Speaking to TMZ founder Harvey Levin on his show “Objectified,” Cuban was pressed on whether he will make a bid for the presidency, a subject he has teased to reporters for months˳
“Considering? Yes,” the owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks and star of ABC’s “Shark Tank” told Levin˳ “Made a decision? Far from˳”
When asked if he’d run as a Democrat, Republican, or independent candidate, Cuban said, “probably Republican˳”
“Because I think there is a place for someone who is socially a centrist but … very fiscally conservative,” Cuban said˳ “But I think there are better ways now to make the government smaller than the traditional Republican ways˳”
He added that his family is split on the idea of him running for president˳
“My kids love it, my wife hates it,” he said˳ “So that’s an influencing factor˳ My family is everything to me˳”
The current political environment calls for someone “who can connect to people and relate to people at a base level and appreciate what they’re going through,” Cuban said, adding that he thinks he qualifies “on each of those˳”
“Now, whether or not I’ll do it, it’s a big decision,” he said˳
Levin asked Cuban on a scale of one to 10 how likely it is that the billionaire runs for president˳
Cuban said it’s a “four˳”
“If your wife says yes?” Levin asked˳
“Five,” Cuban responded˳
Cuban’s interview with Levin was just the latest moment where the businessman teased his possible 2020 bid˳
During a recent appearance at an Atlanta conference, Cuban said if he “was single” he’d “definitely be running˳” In an interview with former Democratic South Carolina state Rep˳ Bakari Sellers on Sellers’ podcast ViewPoint, Cuban said he was “seriously considering” a run for the White House˳ And later that same day, in an interview with CNBC, Cuban said he is “actively considering” a presidential bid, though he added there’s a 90% chance he will not run˳
Cuban is often sharply critical of President Donald Trump, and the billionaire mogul supported Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton during the 2016 general election˳ However, he expressed openness to Trump’s candidacy during the Republican primary˳
Recently, Cuban criticized Trump’s controversial comments aimed at NFL and NBA players, offered up his thoughts on the Republican tax reform proposal, and has assisted in Puerto Rico hurricane recovery efforts˳
An August poll showed Cuban leading Trump in a prospective 2020 race˳ The poll, from the left-leaning polling firm Public Policy Polling, showed Cuban, running as the Democratic presidential nominee, with a small edge over Trump˳
“These are always entertaining,” Cuban told Business Insider in an email at the time˳ “As I have said before, I would only run if I can come up with solutions for healthcare, the plight of working families, and reducing the stress levels of our country˳ It’s possible˳ When I have something to offer, I will˳”