Donald Trump can be manipulated for the right amount, says Mark Cuban

During an appearance on MSNBC’s “The Rachel Maddow Show,” Mark Cuban delivered a blunt assessment of Donald Trump’s character, calling him “the most unethical, lacks character, dishonest person” he’s ever done business with.

He made it clear that he doesn’t trust Trump’s moral compass, calling his integrity into question. “Character is destiny,” Cuban said , pointing out how important it is for leaders to be equipped for unexpected challenges.

In his eyes, Trump’s self-serving nature makes him the worst kind of leader, especially in times of crisis.

Trump’s self-interest above leadership

Cuban also took a direct shot at Trump’s leadership abilities or lack thereof. He highlighted Trump’s habit of making decisions based solely on his own interests, rather than listening to advisors or experts.

“He only listens to himself,” Cuban said, adding that Trump’s self-absorption is evident in every decision he makes. He is also frustrated with Trump’s refusal to grow or adapt.

“This is one of the few human beings on the planet that gets dumber in front of our faces every single day,” Cuban said, slamming Trump for offering shallow and ignorant responses to complicated issues.

Former Republican officials have also distanced themselves from Trump. Cuban believes that if Trump were an honest leader, these officials would have stuck by him.

But no, many have publicly disavowed him, showing a broader lack of confidence in his ability to lead effectively.

Cuban stressed that Trump’s leadership style (where he refuses anyone but himself) is dangerous for the country.

Concerns over a second Trump term

Cuban said Trump would undermine democracy and governance if reelected. He added that the former president’s threats against political rivals are a sign of what could come if he were to regain power.

Reflecting on his personal experience with Trump, Cuban admitted that he initially supported him as an outsider candidate. But that support quickly faded once he realized that Trump wasn’t interested in real policy discussions.

Cuban shared that Trump’s refusal to engage in meaningful governance was a dealbreaker for him. “It’s all crazy,” he said.

Cuban ridiculed Trump’s business ventures, calling them nothing more than cash grabs. “The only reason you sell cologne, commemorative coins, sneakers, and launch DeFi projects is because you need the money.”

He pointed out that Trump’s supposed business successes have always been questionable, with few, if any, real achievements outside of real estate. “You don’t hear stories about overwhelming success in any of Trump’s ventures.”

Cuban also pointed to Trump’s most recent venture, World Liberty Financial, a crypto-based business launched with his sons. The project, according to Cuban, is just the latest in a string of questionable business deals.

“You don’t hear CEOs supporting Trump — well except Elon Musk. They’re worried about his vengeance,” he said.

Trump has long praised himself as the business candidate, but Cuban doesn’t see it that way. He argued that there’s no real reason to vote for Trump based on his business acumen, saying Trump’s decisions show a lack of stability, something businesses need above all else.

Cuban pointed to specific examples like how Trump threatened tariffs on companies like John Deere or Carrier. “You don’t want to wake up one morning as the CEO of John Deere and find out all of a sudden you’ve got a 200 percent tariff,” he said.

A new survey found that economists believe Trump’s policies would lead to higher inflation and deficits if he were reelected.

Trump’s proposed 20 percent tariffs on imported goods are a key part of his economic platform, but Cuban and others warn that these tariffs would ultimately harm American consumers by raising prices.

According to Cuban, Harris is far more stable and open-minded than Trump, making her a better choice for voters who care about the economy.