Cuban on VP Offer: 'She'd Fire Me in 6 Days'

Mark Cuban speaking at a business roundtable hosted by the Kamala Harris for President campaign at Ocotillo in Phoenix, Arizona on October 19, 2024. Photo courtesy of Gage Skidmore under CC BY-SA 2.0.

It wasn't just talk. Behind the scenes of the 2024 campaign, billionaire Mark Cuban got a call most outsiders only dream of — an invitation to be vetted for the vice presidency. But this week, in a casually explosive podcast chat, Cuban made it clear he never wanted the job, and he never planned to play second fiddle to anyone.

Cuban, best known for his ownership in the Dallas Mavericks and for co-starring on "Shark Tank," said Harris's campaign team reached out with a serious ask — submit vetting materials to potentially join her as vice president. But Cuban, ever the blunt businessman, gave them a quick — and colorful — pass.

"I'm not very good as a number-two person," Cuban told the host of the "Bulwark" podcast, Tim Miller, as reported by Entertainment Weekly. "The last thing we need is me telling Kamala, the President, 'No, that's a dumb idea.'" He added that he's "not really good at shaking hands and kissing babies" — a swipe at the traditional political glad-handing that comes with the job.

The Outsider Who Said No

Cuban wasn't just any Harris supporter. After President Biden dropped out in July 2024, Cuban stepped up as a high-profile surrogate for Harris, campaigning in swing states and speaking at rallies.

Yet behind the scenes, he apparently had no illusions about life inside the Beltway. According to the Hill, he joked on the podcast that Harris "would have fired me within six days," illustrating his awareness that his candid, no-nonsense style might clash with political decorum.

Cuban also admitted he felt the extensive vetting process would be a waste of time, referring to the massive paper trail tied to his outspoken business and public life. According to the New York Post, Cuban said the idea of him playing second fiddle in the most scrutinized ticket in America felt "awful."

Cuban vs. Walz: Two Very Different Running Mates

In the end, Harris chose Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Walz, a political veteran with a resume that includes teaching, military service, and two terms as governor, brought a steady hand and a folksy, Midwestern appeal to the campaign. He won praise for policy focus and bipartisanship, even as Republicans criticized him as too liberal for middle America.

Cuban, by contrast, would have brought star power, financial clout, and an outsider edge. He acknowledged the stark difference, telling Miller, "My personality is completely different than Tim's. My experiences, my background are completely different. I think I cut through the s--- more directly. I'm not a politician, and so it would have been different," as reported by Entertainment Weekly.

Politics Ain't Shark Tank

This isn't the first time Cuban has dipped a toe into politics. He has flirted with independent presidential runs and openly criticized both parties. Most recently, he slammed Democrats, saying, "I learned the Democrats can't sell worth s---," according to TIME magazine.

He reportedly accused them of failing to understand the needs of small businesses and of consultant bloat in the party, while also pointing to a disconnect with voters' everyday struggles.

His refusal to be Harris's running mate wasn't about loyalty — it was about fit. Cuban thrives when he calls the shots, not when he toes the line. And in a world where authenticity is currency, Cuban's wry punchline that Harris would have canned him in under a week feels less like self-deprecation and more like cold-eyed realism.

"You know, I really thought she was going to win," Cuban said, reflecting on the campaign's loss to President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, as reported by the NY Post.

Still, he went on to congratulate the Trump ticket for winning "fair and square."

Would It Have Worked?

In an alternate timeline, a Cuban VP pick might have electrified the campaign and drawn in moderates or independents. Or it might have created headline after headline for all the wrong reasons. The one thing that is certain is Cuban wasn't willing to find out.

References:Mark Cuban reveals Kamala Harris considered him as a potential VP — but turned her down | Shark Tank's Mark Cuban turned down offer to be considered for Kamala Harris' VP: 'She would have fired me' | Mark Cuban Turned Down the Offer When Asked to Submit to be Kamala Harris' Vice President in 2024 Presidential Election: 'I'm Not Very Good as the Number Two Person' | Cuban says he turned down Harris team offer to be vetted as VP | Tim Walz: The ex-football coach and teacher who became Harris's VP pick | Mark Cuban: Democrats Are Too Inept to Exploit Trump's Chaos