I don’t watch much TV, but one of my guilty pleasures is "Shark Tank." It’s more than just watching savvy investors hear product pitches; it's a celebration of the American entrepreneurial spirit. What fascinates me even more is how two of the show’s most iconic Sharks, Kevin O'Leary and Mark Cuban, have such starkly different views on the 2024 election and economic policy. Given their clashing opinions on the future of our economy, it's clear that these two billionaires should debate each other—because their showdown could be the debate we truly need this election season.
Mark Cuban, ever the vocal supporter of Kamala Harris, has tried defending her latest economic proposals, including her anti-price-gouging plan. Cuban's defense, however, didn't hold up well. On CNBC’s “Squawk Box',” Cuban fumbled over Harris’s price-gouging claims, ultimately admitting that price-gouging isn’t driving inflation—a point completely undermining her platform. It was a striking moment when Cuban, despite his best efforts, exposed the weakness of the left’s economic narrative.
Then there’s Kevin O’Leary, who, while not exactly pro-Trump, couldn’t disagree more with Cuban or Harris.
Appearing on Fox Business last month, O’Leary blasted Harris’s price-control proposal as part of “Bidenomics 2.0,” dismissing it as an old, failed economic strategy.
According to O'Leary, Kamala's policy is just a rehash of the failed policies from the 1970s and failed socialist regimes. He warned of the inevitable black markets, loss of goods, and economic breakdowns that always accompany price controls. Mark Cuban, for whatever reason, likes her price-gouging plan.
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Mark Cuban has also criticized Trump’s plan to impose tariffs on countries that exploit the United States, like China. But O’Leary clearly understood the reality of Trump’s threat of tariffs.
“Tariffs have been on for years,” O’Leary pointed out. “This is basically a fight with China to get to a level playing field in trade. Personally, I don't like tariffs long term, but I understand them as weaponry.”
O’Leary, like many free-market advocates, believes Harris’s plan is completely out of touch with both voters and economic reality. He drew attention to how associating with Bidenomics—which he called “toxic waste”—is a massive political misstep for Harris, especially as inflation continues to plague American households. Unlike Cuban, who had endorsed Joe Biden originally and then debased himself further by backing Harris, O’Leary sees nothing redeeming in these policies, viewing them as inflationary and disastrous.
This contrast couldn’t be starker: Cuban continues trying to salvage Harris’s image, but even he can’t make the numbers work. O’Leary, on the other hand, is ready to tear the entire Biden-Harris platform apart, calling it a disaster in the making. So, with no future debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on the horizon, let’s have these two “Shark Tank” investors debate the economic policies of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.
Imagine these two successful businessmen debating these policies. Frankly, I think this is the debate America needs right now. Forget the political rhetoric—we need the Cuban vs. O'Leary showdown to duke it out and shine a light on the country's economic future.
