Mark Cuban: Bannon ‘played’ Trump

Billionaire and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban ripped into President Trump’s relationship with his former chief strategist Stephen Bannon on Thursday, saying the Breitbart executive “used” Trump during his time in the White House.

In an interview with “The Jamie Weinstein Show” for the conservative National Review, Cuban says the former top Trump aide revels in being a “kingmaker” who used Trump to pad his own influence.

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“Steve likes to be a kingmaker. He revels in the power and he leverages this,” Cuban said. “He played Trump all the way through, branded himself and he got the best branding out of the whole thing.”

Cuban added that Bannon’s use of Trump’s campaign was possible because Trump has “no core values.” He also dismissed reports that Bannon, who served as the Trump campaign’s chief executive, had discussed a potential presidential run with Cuban.

“A lot of people think, ‘Well, if you talk to Steve Bannon, he’s going to influence you like he’s some magician or some Geppetto that takes control,'” Cuban said.

“I’m not Donald Trump, right? I have my integrity. I have my standards. I have my beliefs that are core to me,” he added. “And then there’s topics that I’m always trying to learn about.”

During the interview, Cuban was also asked directly whether he thought Bannon respects Trump.

“I got the sense he doesn’t,” Cuban said.

Cuban said last month that he was “considering” a run against Trump in 2020.

“Yes. Considering, yes,” Cuban said in October. “Ready to commit to it, no. If it comes down to, ‘Do I think I can win because I can convince more people to vote for me?’ Then no, I won’t run.”