### Mark Cuban Apologizes Following Controversial Remarks About Trump

Billionaire entrepreneur Mark Cuban has issued an apology for his recent comments suggesting that former President Donald Trump does not surround himself with "strong, intelligent women." Cuban's remarks were made during an appearance on ABC's The View, and almost immediately, they sparked a backlash from Republicans who accused Democrats of holding Trump supporters in contempt.

Cuban took to X to clarify his intentions, saying he did not articulate his message as he had intended. "So I apologize to anyone who felt slighted or upset by my response," he wrote. "As I said, it wasn't about Trump voters, supporters or employees. Current or former." He also admitted that his comments were easily clipped into viral sound bites, amplifying their impact.

Cuban, who sold his controlling stake in the Dallas Mavericks in December and is nearing the end of his tenure on Shark Tank, has recently become more involved in politics. He is actively campaigning for Kamala Harris, serving as one of her prominent surrogates. During the same episode of The View, Cuban voiced his belief that Harris would win the upcoming election, partly due to strong support from women.

The controversy began when co-host Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump aide, asked why Trump had not sought the help of women like Nikki Haley, who had lost to him in the GOP presidential primary. Cuban responded that Trump is intimidated by "strong, intelligent women" and does not want to be challenged by them. He added that Nikki Haley would confront Trump on issues such as reproductive rights and his treatment and rhetoric towards women.

The comments were met with outrage from Republicans and conservative commentators who accused Cuban of insulting all women who support Trump. Senator Ted Cruz highlighted both Cuban's remarks and a recent gaffe by President Joe Biden, in which he appeared to call Trump supporters "garbage" during a Zoom call. Biden's team later clarified that he had been referring to a specific comedian's controversial joke.

Cruz voiced his frustrations on his Friday podcast, mentioning that he saw several Halloween costumes imitating garbage bags as a reaction to Biden’s comments. According to Cruz, Cuban's statement only reinforced the Harris campaign's negative view of Trump supporters. "Kamala Harris' top surrogate decided it's not enough to insult half of America and call them garbage. Let's go out of the way to really insult women," Cruz remarked.

U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, a Democrat from Dallas currently running against Cruz, condemned Biden's comment and emphasized the importance of respectful dialogue. "I don't think we should speak about folks in that way," he said, criticizing Ted Cruz for allegedly sowing division among Texans.

The incident underscores the ongoing tensions and sensitivities in the current political climate, particularly regarding perceptions of Trump supporters.