Why Donald Trump will obsess over Michael Bloomberg

(CNN)Donald Trump has a very simple view on the world: The richer and more famous you are, the better.

Which is why the President is virtually certain to fixate on the likely presidential candidacy of former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg

In each episode of his weekly YouTube show, Chris Cillizza will delve a little deeper into the surreal world of politics. Click to subscribe!

Bloomberg, the former three-term mayor of Trump's native New York City, is both very rich and very famous. The media empire Bloomberg built has built has pushed his net worth to more $51 billion, making him the 8th richest person in America, according to Forbes . ( Trump is 275th on that list , with an estimated net worth of $3.1 billion.) Bloomberg's philanthropy and spending on political causes close to his heart (gun control, climate crisis, soda, himself) has made him a national figure of some renown.

Bloomberg has leaned into the comparisons between himself and Trump. In his speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention , he said this:

"Now, we've heard a lot of talk in this campaign about needing a leader who understands business. I couldn't agree more. I've built a business and I didn't start it with a million-dollar check from my father. Because of my success in the private sector, I had the chance to run America's largest city for 12 years, governing in the wake of its greatest tragedy."

Assuming Bloomberg ultimately runs -- and I assume he will at this point -- he will presumably do so on this sort of message: I'm a businessman, like the current president. I'm just more successful, more stable and much, much richer.

And if you think that message won't get to Donald Trump, then you don't know Trump very well. In fact, we already have ample evidence that Bloomberg gets under Trump's skin.

Trump tweeted in July 2016 "'Little' Michael Bloomberg, who never had the guts to run for president, knows nothing about me," Trump tweeted in July 2016 . "His last term as Mayor was a disaster!" Trump followed that tweet up with: "If Michael Bloomberg ran again for Mayor of New York, he wouldn't get 10% of the vote - they would run him out of town!"

Asked about Bloomberg's potential candidacy on Friday morning, Trump went off. "He became just a nothing. He is not going to do well," said Trump of Bloomberg. "He doesn't have the magic to do well. 'Little Michael' will spend a lot of money ... he's got some personal problems and other problems ...There's nobody I'd rather run against than 'Little Michael'."

Now, simply being able to troll Trump with his wealth won't win Bloomberg the Democratic nomination. But, it can't hurt! The more Trump pays attention to Bloomberg, the more he elevates the mayor in the eyes of Democrats -- the thinking being: Hey, this guy really gets under Trump's skin, and that's good!

And, there is a potentially compelling general election argument that goes like this: You liked Donald Trump's business background? Well, I have that too! But, I've been more successful and am far more competent than the current occupant of the White House.

Source: CNN

Powered by NewsAPI.org

Keywords:

Donald Trump • Michael Bloomberg • CNN • Donald Trump • New York City • Michael Bloomberg • YouTube • Chris Cillizza • Bloomberg News • Mayor of New York City • Donald Trump • New York City • Bloomberg L.P. • Net worth • 1,000,000,000 • Forbes • Donald Trump • Net worth • 1,000,000,000 • Bloomberg L.P. • Philanthropy • Gun control • Global warming • Bloomberg News • Donald Trump • Freedom of speech • 2016 Democratic National Convention • Political campaign • Private sector • Bloomberg L.P. • Donald Trump • Michael Bloomberg • Donald Trump • Donald Trump • Twitter • Michael Bloomberg • Mayor of New York City • Bloomberg L.P. • Magic to Do • Democratic Party (United States) • Michael Bloomberg • Democratic Party (United States) • General election • Donald Trump • White House •