Over the last couple of years, the Dallas Mavericks’ owner and Shark Tank star has given interviews in which he’s stated unequivocally “there’s nothing about me that wants to take any political office,” and others in which he’s said a bid for the White House is “certainly a consideration.” According to Cuban’s Shark Tank co-star, the cowboy-shirt-wearing Silicon Valley investor Chris Sacca—who spoke to several outlets on the subject of a future Cuban presidency during the final stretch of last year’s campaign—there is “a 100 percent chance that Mark Cuban becomes the president of the United States.” The never-ending saga of “Mark Cuban 2020: Will He or Won’t He?” was given new life this weekend, thanks to none other than President Trump. Yesterday, when the president wasn’t relaxing at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida—after wining and dining and golfing with the president of Japan—he fired what appeared to be a from-nowhere attack on Cuban.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Trump’s surprise blitz was apparently prompted by an article published in The New York Post on Sunday titled “Trump’s White House eyes potential foes in 2020 election,” which cites high-level sources claiming that the White House’s “biggest fear” is a Cuban campaign in four years. “He’s not a typical candidate,” an “insider” is quoted saying. “He appeals to a lot of people the same way Trump did…. Mark is the kind of guy who would drop half a billion dollars of his own money on the race.” Last night, Cuban responded to Trump’s missive. Well, there he goes again. Is he or is he not actually running? — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 12, 2017 — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 12, 2017 — Mark Cuban (@mcuban) February 12, 2017 If you find the whole thing slightly dizzying, we’d like to provide some much-needed clarity. Last fall, Dave Zinczenko asked Cuban directly about a future White House bid in an interview with Men’s Fitness: “We’ve read that you’re mulling a run for president one day,” said Zinczenko. “Is that true?” “No chance I’d run for president,” Cuban responded. “I wouldn’t do that to my family.” Well, there’s nothing vague about that. For amazing advice for living smarter, looking better, feeling younger, and playing harder, sign up for our newsletter—delivered every day!
