2020 Democratic presidential contender Michael Bloomberg set off an Oval Office twitter spat on Thursday morning when his campaign released an ad attacking President Donald Trump that was covered by Fox News’ “Fox & Friends.”
The ad focuses on a meeting that Trump had with military leaders, with the voiceover reading in choppy bits: “President Trump arrives for a briefing by top military leaders. Trump explodes, attacks the war heroes in the room as ‘losers’ and ‘a bunch of dopes and babies.’ Many in the room had risked their lives for our country. Soldiers, heroes, attacked by an erratic and out of control president. Arrogance, ignorance, chaos. Enough.”
See the ad below:
Discussing the clip, “Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade, however, praised Trump’s military accomplishments, even noting that Trump “relaxed rules of engagement” — a move that has caused some criticism, especially after Trump pardoned a high-profile Navy SEAL accused of war crimes.
Trump shot back on Twitter, writing, “Mini Mike Bloomberg is playing poker with his foolhardy and unsuspecting Democrat rivals. […] when Mini losses, he will be spending very little of his money on these ‘clowns’ because he will consider himself to be the biggest clown of them all – and he will be right!.”
….during his hopeless “presidential” campaign. They will remain silent! The fact is, when Mini losses, he will be spending very little of his money on these “clowns” because he will consider himself to be the biggest clown of them all – and he will be right!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2020
Though Bloomberg entered the race late, he has seen his polling numbers continue to jump as he spends million of his fortune on ad buys attacking the president. The RealClearPolitics polling average has him tied with former South Bend, Ind., Mayor Pete Buttigieg in fourth place.
After Trump’s tweet, Bloomberg shot back, “Obsessed much? It shouldn’t be this easy to distract the President of the United States.”
Obsessed much?
— Mike Bloomberg (@MikeBloomberg) January 23, 2020
It shouldn't be this easy to distract the President of the United States. https://t.co/rCSIBIKbkF https://t.co/LMgqvV9PAH
Trump is back in the United States after spending a few days in Davos, Switzerland, where he was speaking at the World Economic Forum. And while he was away, his impeachment trial opened in the Senate, a news cycle that is sure to dominate the next few weeks as senators trudge toward a verdict and 2020 Democrats race toward the first votes of the cycle.
