New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio officially announced Thursday that he is running in the 2020 Presidential election on Twitter: “Today I am proud to announce my candidacy for president of the United States of America because it’s time to finally put working people first.” He also included a YouTube link. He is the 23rd Democratic candidate to enter the race.
The three-minute video begins with Bill de Blasio saying “There is plenty of money in this world. There’s plenty of money in this country, it’s just in the wrong hands.” Most of his video announcement focuses on Trump, “I’m a New Yorker. I’ve known Trump’s a bully for a long time. This is not news to me or anyone else here, and I know how to take him on,” de Blasio says.
President Trump didn’t hold back his feelings about the NYC mayor on Twitter. “Bill de Blasio is the worst Mayor in the history of New York City – he won’t last long!” In his 36-second long video, Trump says, “I can’t believe it. I just heard that the worst mayor in the history of New York City, and without question, the worst mayor in the United States, is now running for president.”
The president added, “It will never happen. I’m pretty good at predicting things like that. I would be very surprised to see him in there for a long period, but it’s just not going to happen. If you like high taxes, if you like crime, you can vote for him. But most people aren’t into that. So, I wish him luck, but really it’d be better off if you get back to New York City and did your job for the little time you have left. Good luck. Do well.”
Bill de Blasio responded to Trump’s tweets saying, “NYC has record low crime & record high jobs. We’re investing in working families with free Pre-K & guaranteed health care. #ConDon taking advantage of working families is no joke…As President, I’ll put working people first.”
The NYC mayor spoke on Monday at a conference in the Trump Tower lobby in mid-town Manhatten about his New York City Green New Deal. Trump supporters were there to drown out de Blasio’s speech while jeering and holding “Trump 2020” and “Worst Mayor Ever” signs.
Eric Trump tweeted, “The fact that the Mayor of a major city would attack an iconic organization (which employs thousands of hardworking New York taxpayers) for his own political gain is an abuse of power, unethical and simply counterintuitive.”
“@NYCMayor if you ever think there is an initiative that would be great for New York, I would be happy to come to city hall and visit you anytime. But forcing a pop-up press conference in our lobby is simply childish,” he tweeted.
Bill de Blasio responded, “Spare me. You and your dad have spent decades evading taxes and stiffing your workers. NYC’s Green New Deal is one law the Trumps won’t get away with breaking. Fix your buildings or pay the price.”
Even former New York City mayor and Trump’s personal attorney jumped in by tweeting, “It is painful to see the quality of life, in the city I love, deteriorate. Mayor Bloomberg preserved it. The incumbent inherited a well run, and maintained, city. It took a while for him to ruin it but now everyone sees it and comments on it. It’s a shame.”
