Billionaire businessman Mark Cuban criticized Donald Trump on Monday, calling his attack on the federal judge overseeing his Trump University lawsuit “a hail Mary.”
In an interview with Chris Cuomo on CNN’s “New Day,” the owner of the Dallas Mavericks slammed Trump over his claims that a judge overseeing a lawsuit against Trump University is biased because of his Mexican heritage.
“It’s sad,” Cuban said. “Particularly the position he’s in right now, it’s more a reflection of Donald. The reality is the lawsuits with Trump University go back long before Donald decided to run for president. It’s a Hail Mary on Donald’s part. He knows he’s wrong.”
Cuban said there was “nothing, nothing at all” wrong with trying to pay as few taxes as possible — as Trump has repeatedly said he wanted to do — but he added that “it’s not so much the tax rate he pays but the perspective you have on taxes.”
“He and I have both been incredibly blessed to have our opportunities in this country, and if you ask me, after military service, the most patriotic thing you can do is pay your taxes,” Cuban said. “I have gotten a lot from this country and feel like I owe back something. That’s not his feeling, and that’s his choice.”
Cuban has made recent political news with his aggressive political posturing, and has pitched himself as a running mate for the likely nominees of both major parties.
While he criticized Trump throughout the interview, Cuban also said he thought he would be a good vice presidential pick, arguing his very differences with Trump would make him a good partner.
“In my business career, all my best partners, all my biggest wins have come with partners who are the exact opposite, who compliment my skill set,” he said. “Donald doesn’t send emails or have a clue about tech … I’m an independent. I can discuss things with both sides of the aisle.”
