Trump: Bloomberg reminds me of Jeb Bush

President Trump attacked Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg in a tweet on Thursday, calling the former New York City mayor a “loser” who reminds him of former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R), who ran against Trump in 2016.

“Mini Mike Bloomberg is a LOSER who has money but can’t debate and has zero presence, you will see. He reminds me of a tiny version of Jeb ‘Low Energy’ Bush, but Jeb has more political skill and has treated the Black community much better than Mini!” Trump said.

Mini Mike Bloomberg is a LOSER who has money but can’t debate and has zero presence, you will see. He reminds me of a tiny version of Jeb “Low Energy” Bush, but Jeb has more political skill and has treated the Black community much better than Mini! https://t.co/qIef5VhjDr

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2020

Bush ran against Trump in the 2016 presidential primary and quickly became one of the eventual nominee’s favorite targets in the GOP primary field. Bush earned the nickname “Low Energy Jeb” after what Trump said was a lack of charisma in his debate performances, a nickname that stuck throughout his failed primary bid.

The president has repeatedly gone after Bloomberg in recent days, dubbing the 5-foot-7 former mayor “Mini Mike.”

“Mini Mike is a 5’4” mass of dead energy who does not want to be on the debate stage with these professional politicians. No boxes please. He hates Crazy Bernie and will, with enough money, possibly stop him. Bernie’s people will go nuts!” Trump added in a follow-up tweet.

Mini Mike is a 5’4” mass of dead energy who does not want to be on the debate stage with these professional politicians. No boxes please. He hates Crazy Bernie and will, with enough money, possibly stop him. Bernie’s people will go nuts!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 13, 2020

Bloomberg launched a late presidential bid in November and has sought to make up ground by dropping hundreds of millions of his own dollars on an advertising blitz in Super Tuesday and general election swing states. Though he is skipping the first four nominating contests of the Democratic primary cycle, he has risen in national polling, at times hitting third place. 

Bloomberg’s ads have often focused on Trump, with many saying he is unfit for office. The former mayor has also pledged to use his wealth to support the eventual Democratic nominee should he fail to win the party’s nomination.

“.@realDonaldTrump – we know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence. I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will,” he tweeted in response to the president’s latest broadsides.

.@realDonaldTrump – we know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence.

I have the record & the resources to defeat you. And I will. https://t.co/fO4azmZaUg

— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) February 13, 2020

Trump said Wednesday he sees Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as the 2020 Democratic primary field’s current front-runner, saying he is polling ahead of Bloomberg “because Sanders has real followers.”

–This report was updated at 12:57 p.m.