This combination of pictures created on November 8, 2019 shows a file photo taken on May 15, 2019 of Michael Bloomberg, left, arriving to the opening celebration of the Statue of Liberty Museum on Liberty Island at the Statue Cruises Terminal in Battery Park in New York and a file photo taken on November 6, 2019 of US President Donald Trump speaking during a rally at the Monroe Civic Center in Monroe, Louisiana. (Kena Betancur and Mandel Ngan/AFP)
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump mocked “little” billionaire and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg on Friday, saying his potential opponent for the 2020 election would fail if he joined the race.
“He doesn’t have the magic to do well… Little Michael will fail,” Trump told reporters at the White House as he headed to the southern state of Georgia to rally support.
Bloomberg, 77, is expected to enter the race Friday to become the Democratic nominee for US president, setting up a showdown with fellow septuagenarian Joe Biden as the leading centrist candidate.
He is expected to file paperwork in at least one state declaring himself a candidate, according to multiple outlets including The New York Times.
This photo from July 24, 2019, shows Michael Bloomberg addressing the NAACP’s 110th National Convention at Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan. (Jeff Kowalsky/AFP)
Bloomberg had said back in March he wouldn’t run, but more recently has been toying with the idea of throwing his hat in the ring, according to an advisor.
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He sent members of staff to Alabama to gather the signatures required to register for its primary ahead of the deadline Friday in anticipation of a bid, the reports said.
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before leaving the White House in Washington on November 8, 2019. (Nicholas Kamm/AFP)
Bloomberg advisor Howard Wolfson said in a statement that the billionaire wanted to ensure that the job of defeating Trump was seen through in 2020.
“He’s not going to do well, but I think he’s going to hurt Biden actually,” Trump added.
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“There’s nobody I’d rather run against than Little Michael.”
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