Scaramucci: Trump sees Bloomberg as threat

Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said late Friday that there is “no question” that Michael Bloomberg would be “the No. 1 threat” to President Trump should the former New York City mayor enter the 2020 Democratic presidential primary.

“I think the president would be very intimidated by a guy like Michael Bloomberg,” Scaramucci told CNN’s Chris Cuomo. “He’s a New Yorker. He could stand the onslaught of the president’s bullying. He’s worth probably five to eight times the president’s net worth. He could spend a fortune defending himself and getting ads up in all areas of the country.”

“And if Mike Bloomberg got the nomination, it’s very clear to me that he would beat Trump,” Scaramucci added, citing the billionaire businessman’s “level of moderation,” “pro-business nature” and “social progressiveness.”

Bloomberg on Friday officially filed as a candidate for the Alabama Democratic presidential primary, signaling the first step in a possible White House run that could shake up the crowded primary field.

If he enters the race, he would directly face off with former Vice President Joe Biden and South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg, the two leading moderate candidates.

He would also likely become a top target for progressive front-runners Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who have slammed the rich for holding too much power in U.S. politics and have insisted that the wealthiest Americans should pay higher taxes.

Amid speculation that Bloomberg would launch a presidential bid, Trump said Friday that he doesn’t think the former mayor would perform well in the primary. Trump added, however, that he’d like to run against Bloomberg, whom he nicknamed “little Michael.”

“Little Michael will fail. He’ll spend a lot of money. He’s got some really big issues, he’s got some personal problems and he’s got a lot of other problems,” Trump said. “He will not do very well and if he did, I would be happy. There’s nobody I’d rather run against than little Michael.”