'Poor businessman': Mark Cuban slammed for mocking Trump by declaring he's 'proud' to pay his taxes

DALLAS, TEXAS: Billionaire entrepreneur and Dallas Mavericks' former majority owner Mark Cuban set the internet on fire on Sunday, April 14, with a tweet boasting about paying a massive $288 million tax bill, while also appearing to take a jab at former president Donald Trump's tax history.

As the April 15 tax filing deadline loomed, Cuban revealed the staggering sum he was wiring to the IRS, stating he was "proud to pay my taxes every single year," as reported by Newsweek.

Mark Cuban mocks Donald Trump's tax history ahead of filing deadline

"I pay what I owe. Tomorrow I will wire transfer to the IRS $288,000,000.00. This country has done so much for me, I'm proud to pay my taxes every single year. Tag a former president that you know doesn't," Cuban wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

The "former president" Cuban hinted at was clearly Trump, who faced scrutiny for not releasing his tax returns during his presidency, and was later revealed to have paid minimal federal income taxes during some years while in office.

Trump's complex tax situation came under renewed scrutiny in November 2022 when a detailed report by the Joint Committee on Taxation showed he declared negative income in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2020.

The report revealed Trump paid just $1,500 in federal income taxes for 2016 and 2017 combined. For 2020, Trump and his wife Melania paid no federal income taxes and claimed a $5.47 million refund.

Not the first time Mark Cuban has made his political stance clear

This isn't the first time Mark Cuban has clarified his political stance. Earlier this year, during an interview with Axios, the 'Shark Tank' personality disclosed his intention to support Biden/Harris over Trump in the 2024 election, branding the former president as a "snake oil salesman."

"I don't want a snake oil salesperson as president. I'm voting for Biden/Harris over Trump all day every day," Cuban told the outlet.

Internet mocks Mark Cuban for bragging about paying his taxes

Mark Cuban bragging about paying his taxes sparked a firestorm of internet mockery. One X user remarked, "Imagine being such a poor businessman that you give the government 288 million dollars and think it’s a good thing."

Another said, "Mark Cuban is a clown."

One individual said, "Hell of a humiliation ritual. Bragging about making politicians rich."

Another commented, "Proof you can be rich and a putz."

One user said, "Imagine virtue signaling for paying what was legally required to keep you out of prison."

Another user added, "Imagine being happy about forking over $288 million to the government to burn on war and frivolous social programs of countries you've never heard of in a week." 

One person wrote, "That will be $288 million that will be wasted into oblivion. As a taxpayer, you should be pissed that the federal government has wasted your money."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.