2020 Presidential Campaign Blog

Michael Bloomberg's Full Remarks at the 2020 Democratic National Convention

Michael Bloomberg's Full Remarks at the 2020 Democratic National Convention 

MILWAUKEE—Below are former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's full remarks as prepared for delivery from night four of the 2020 Democratic National Convention.

The Honorable Michael Bloomberg

Former Mayor of New York City

Democratic National Convention

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Good evening. 

I’ve never been much for partisan politics. I’ve supported Democrats, Republicans, and independents. Hell—I’ve actually been a Democrat, Republican, and independent.

To me, elections are about people. And the two people running for president couldn’t be more different. One believes in facts. One does not. One listens to experts—the other thinks he knows everything. One looks forward—and sees strength in America’s diversity. The other looks backwards—and sees immigrants as enemies and white supremacists as allies.

Here’s another difference: One has proven he knows how to handle a crisis by helping to lead the economic turnaround after the 2008 recession, while the other has not only failed to lead, he has made the current crisis much worse.

When confronted with the biggest calamity any president has faced in the modern era, Donald Trump spent the year downplaying the threat, ignoring science, and recommending quack cures, which let COVID-19 spread much faster than it should’ve, leaving hundreds of thousands needlessly sick or dead. He has failed the American people, catastrophically.

Four years ago, I came before this very convention and said New Yorkers know a con when we see one. But tonight I’m not asking you to vote against Trump because he’s a bad guy. I’m urging you to vote against him because he’s done a bad job.

Today, unemployment is at historic highs. And small businesses are struggling just to survive. It didn’t have to be this way.

Before I ran for mayor, I spent 20 years running a business I started from scratch. So I want to ask small business owners and their employees one question, and it’s a question for everyone: Would you rehire, or work for, someone who ran your business into the ground? And who always does what’s best for him or her—even when it hurts the company? And whose reckless decisions put you in danger? And who spends more time tweeting than working?!

If the answer is no, why the hell would we ever rehire Donald Trump for another four years?!

Trump says we should vote for him because he’s a great businessman. Really?! He drove his companies into bankruptcy six times, always leaving behind customers and contractors who were cheated and swindled and stopped doing business with him.

Well, this time, all of us are paying the price. And we can’t let him get away with it again.

Donald says we should vote for him because the economy was great before the virus. Huh?! Biden and Obama created more jobs over their last three years than the Trump administration did over their first three, and economic growth was higher under Biden and Obama than under Trump. In fact, while Biden helped save one million auto industry jobs, Trump has lost 250,000 manufacturing jobs.

So when Trump says he wants to Make America Great Again, he’s making a pretty good case for Joe Biden. Look, our goal shouldn’t be to bring back the pre-pandemic economy. It should be, as Joe says, to build it back better.

Joe’s economic plan will create clean energy jobs that help fight another crisis that Trump is ignoring: climate change. And Joe will rebuild our crumbling roads and bridges, something Trump has incessantly talked about doing. But in the last three and half years, he hasn’t done anything. What a joke!

And let me tell you a little secret: Donald Trump's economic plan was to give a huge tax cut to guys like me who didn’t need it, and then lie about it to everyone else.

Well, Joe will roll back that tax cut I got so we can fund things our whole country needs, like training for adults who have lost jobs. And making college more affordable. And investing in American research and development so that the products of tomorrow are made here today, by American workers.

You know, growing up, I was taught to believe that America is the greatest country in the world, not because we won the Second World War, but because of why we fought it: for freedom, democracy, and equality.

My favorite childhood book was called Johnny Tremain, about a Boston boy who joins the Sons of Liberty at the dawn of the American Revolution. At the end of the book, Johnny stands on Lexington Commons and sees a nation that is, quote: “green with spring, dreaming of the future.”

That’s the America I know and love. And that’s the America we are in danger of losing under this president. So let’s put an end to this whole sorry chapter in American history and elect leaders who will bring integrity, stability, sanity, and competence back to the White House.

Joe and Kamala, go get ’em. For all of us.

Mike Bloomberg 2020 Makes Transfer of $18 Million to Democratic National Committee

MIKE BLOOMBERG 2020 MAKES TRANSFER OF $18 MILLION TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE

NEW YORK — Today, Mike Bloomberg 2020 announced a transfer of $18 million to the Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) Coordinated Campaign to help Democrats win up and down the ballot in November. This is the largest transfer from a presidential campaign in recent history. Additionally, Mike Bloomberg 2020 will also transfer several of its former field offices to state parties and help accelerate the hiring pace for important positions in organizing, data, and operations across key battleground states. The campaign believes this investment will dramatically expand the DNC’s Battleground Build-Up 2020 efforts across battleground states, drawing in part from our own incredibly experienced and talented organizing staff. Staff in the six battleground states notified today will be employed and paid through the first week in April and have full benefits through the end of April.

Below is a memo from the Mike Bloomberg 2020 campaign to Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee, outlining next steps.

TO: Tom Perez, Chair of the Democratic National Committee
FROM: Mike Bloomberg 2020 Campaign
DATE: March 20, 2020
RE: Bloomberg Campaign Next Steps

There is no greater threat to our Democracy than the current occupant in the White House, and Mike launched his campaign with the fundamental goal of defeating him and energizing Democratic victories up and down the ballot.
During Mike’s campaign, we made defeating Donald Trump a priority, including organizing early in states that don’t often get Primary attention and through a $275 million media blitz to remind voters of President Trump’s failures and broken promises. We also did not run any negative TV ads against fellow Democratic candidates. Until our campaign kicked off this effort, Trump was the only candidate on either side who was campaigning and holding rallies in the key states that will decide the 2020 election.
As Mike said throughout the campaign, he would support whomever the eventual Democratic nominee is, as well as Democrats in key races that we must elect to help undo the damage President Trump has done in office. While our campaign has ended, Mike’s number one objective this year remains defeating Trump and helping Democrats win in November.
The existential threat posed by Trump has become abundantly clear in his complete mismanagement of the Coronavirus crisis — a crisis that has profound implications for our economy, our public health and our way of life. But we should also not assume that Trump’s incompetence will be enough to make him a one-term President. Trump’s ability to lie and propagate misinformation, particularly using digital tools and other means with swing voters in battleground states, will continue to ensure a close race in November. Every decision we make as Democrats must account for this.
While we considered creating our own independent entity to support the nominee and hold the President accountable, this race is too important to have many competing groups with good intentions but that are not coordinated and united in strategy and execution. The dynamics of the race have also fundamentally changed, and it is critically important that we all do everything we can to support our eventual nominee and scale the Democratic Party’s general election efforts.

We therefore believe the best thing we can all do over the next eight months is to help the group that matters most in this fight: the Democratic National Committee.
That is why Mike Bloomberg 2020 has decided to make a transfer of $18 million to the Democratic National Committee’s organizing efforts and Coordinated Campaign to help Democrats win up and down the ballot this fall. In particular, we hope this investment will dramatically expand the DNC’s Battleground Build-Up 2020 efforts across battleground states, drawing in part from our own incredibly experienced and talented organizing staff.
Mike Bloomberg 2020 will also transfer several of its former field offices to state parties and help accelerate the hiring pace for important positions in organizing, data, and operations across key battleground states.
Mike Bloomberg entered this race to ensure Democrats win — keeping the House blue, flipping the Senate, winning key state and local races, and taking back the White House — and this commitment through November helps do exactly that. By supporting the Democratic Party, we look forward to November and taking on our unified goal of beating Donald Trump.

Statement from Mike Bloomberg Ending Presidential Campaign and Endorsing Joe Biden

STATEMENT FROM MIKE BLOOMBERG

This morning, Mike Bloomberg released the following statement:

“Three months ago, I entered the race for President to defeat Donald Trump. Today, I am leaving the race for the same reason: to defeat Donald Trump – because it is clear to me that staying in would make achieving that goal more difficult.

“I’m a believer in using data to inform decisions. After yesterday’s results, the delegate math has become virtually impossible – and a viable path to the nomination no longer exists. But I remain clear-eyed about my overriding objective: victory in November. Not for me, but for our country. And so while I will not be the nominee, I will not walk away from the most important political fight of my life.

“I’ve always believed that defeating Donald Trump starts with uniting behind the candidate with the best shot to do it. After yesterday’s vote, it is clear that candidate is my friend and a great American, Joe Biden.

“I’ve known Joe for a very long time. I know his decency, his honesty, and his commitment to the issues that are so important to our country – including gun safety, health care, climate change, and good jobs.

“I’ve had the chance to work with Joe on those issues over the years, and Joe has fought for working people his whole life. Today I am glad to endorse him – and I will work to make him the next President of the United States.

“I am immensely proud of the campaign we ran, the issues we raised, and the sweeping and achievable plans we proposed – including our Greenwood Initiative to right historic wrongs, fight racial inequality, and make the promise of equal opportunity real for the Black communities that have endured centuries of exploitation and discrimination. That work is fundamental to the future of our country – and to the more perfect union that each generation is called to build.

“I am deeply grateful to all the Americans who voted for me – and to our incredibly dedicated staff and volunteers all around the country, who knocked on more than two million doors and held 12 million voter conversations in an incredibly short amount of time. No one outworked our team, and I couldn’t be prouder of everyone who was part of it. And I will be forever grateful to all the mayors, local and state legislators, Members of Congress, and many others who believed in me, endorsed my candidacy, and worked hard to unite voters around our vision. Your support and trust sustained me, and I look forward to working with you in the months and years ahead.

“We made our campaign slogan a clear, simple promise: Mike will get it done. And I intend to keep working on the “it.” I will continue to work for sensible, common sense policy solutions that can get done. That includes passing gun safety laws that save lives. Fighting climate change. Improving health care. Making college more accessible and affordable. Creating economic opportunity for all. And helping mayors and local leaders across the country who are doing so much important work on all of these issues.

“The past few months have been some of the most inspiring of my life, and I want to thank the tens of thousands of Americans, from Maine to California, whom I was privileged to meet – and who every day, with their voices and their ideas, made this campaign such a powerful experience. And I am intent on making it a lasting experience: I want my supporters to stay engaged, stay active and stay committed to our issues. I will be right there with you. And together, we will get it done.”

Statement from Mike Bloomberg 2020 Campaign Manager Kevin Sheekey

STATEMENT FROM MIKE BLOOMBERG 2020 CAMPAIGN MANAGER KEVIN SHEEKEY

"We launched our campaign exactly 100 days ago. In that incredibly short time, we’ve built a nationwide coalition focused on building a better future for America, and that starts with defeating Donald Trump in November.

"As Mike has traversed the country, meeting with voters in more than 70 cities across 27 states, he’s engaged with voters about his record of taking on tough fights on the issues that matter most to Americans. From his unmatched record on gun safety and climate change, to his plans to lead America through a crisis, Mike Bloomberg has shown voters he knows how to get it done.

"Tonight, only one-third of delegates will be allotted. As Mike said tonight, 'No matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something no one else thought was possible. In just three months, we've gone from just 1% in the polls to being a contender for the Democratic nomination.'

"Our number one priority remains defeating Donald Trump in November."

Mike Bloomberg's Remarks in West Palm Beach, Florida on Super Tuesday

MIKE BLOOMBERG'S REMARKS IN WEST PALM BEACH ON SUPER TUESDAY

Remarks as delivered
“Well hello, Florida. What a crowd! Thank you all for coming!

“Judy and I were just going to sit at home tonight, her at her home, I at mine, watch a little television, have a drink or two. But I do want to thank Judge Judy – isn’t she amazing?

“And also a big thanks to all the elected officials and Florida leaders supporting our campaign including: Mayors Manny Diaz, Phil Levine, Bob Buckhorn, Keith James, and Congress Members Ted Deutch and Stephanie Murphy. Let’s hear it for them.

“It’s great to be here in this beautiful state. I know you’re not used to seeing a New Yorker in Southern Florida in late winter. But unlike the President, I didn’t come here to golf or to reveal classified information to Mar-a-Lago members.

“I came here because winning in November starts with Florida. And if I’m the nominee, let me make you this promise: we will beat Donald Trump here in Florida and in swing states around the country.

“Tonight, the polls are still open in a number of Super Tuesday states – and as the results come in, here’s what is clear: no matter how many delegates we win tonight, we have done something no one thought was possible.

“In just three months, we’ve gone from 1 percent in the polls to being a contender for the Democratic nomination for president.

“All across America, I’ve been talking with voters. And my message is simple: I am running to beat Donald Trump and to start rebuilding our country. And to start getting things done.

“And I mean big, important things: like stopping gun violence, and fighting climate change, and finally achieving affordable health coverage for all Americans.

“This is a campaign for change – a campaign for sanity, for honesty, a campaign for inclusion, compassion, for competence, and a campaign for human decency.

“And this is a campaign to bring our country back together and put the United back in the United States of America.

“That’s the message I’ve been delivering not only to Democrats, but also to swing voters who will actually decide who will be our next president.

“And tonight, we proved something very important. We proved we can win the voters who will decide the general election. And isn’t that what this is all about?

“Now, while my fellow candidates spent a whole year focusing on the first four states, I was out campaigning against Donald Trump in the states where the election will actually be decided like Wisconsin, and Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and Ohio, and North Carolina, and of course, Florida.

“President Obama proved that a Democrat can win all of those states – but in 2016, we lost them all. Well, I’m running to win them back. And together, we are going to get it done.

“Now, we all know Trump’s strategy: attack Democrats, make their plans look unrealistic, unaffordable, and undoable. That won’t work against us.

“Our plans are sensible, workable, and achievable. And we have the record and the resources to defeat Trump in swing states the Democrats lost in 2016 – like Florida.

“I know we can do it, and you know who else knows it? Donald Trump. That’s why he keeps attacking us on Twitter. Today he sent a Tweet out urging people not to vote for us. Gee, I wonder why?

“Clearly, Trump is scared stiff of facing us – and for good reason. In every campaign I ran for mayor, we built a broad coalition that brought Democrats and independents and moderate Republicans together.

“Donald Trump the other day called me short. I said Donald, where I come from we measure people from the neck up. That’s how we’re going to beat Donald Trump.

“I believe we need a leader who is ready to be Commander in Chief – not College Debater in Chief. So if you want someone who talks turkey and who has a record of accomplishment on all the big issues facing our country, and who has the resources to beat Trump, I’m your guy.

“While Trump tweets – I follow facts, respect data, and tell the truth. My whole career, I have been a doer, and I believe we need less talk, less partisanship, less division, less tweeting. In fact, how about no tweeting from the Oval Office ever again?

“Now, you’ve all heard our campaign slogan: Mike will get it done. Well, let me tell you what the ‘it’ is. It means winning this November and sending Donald Trump back to Mar-a-Lago, permanently.

“But that’s just the beginning. Because getting it done means finally providing health insurance to every American who lacks it.

“Getting it done means passing common-sense gun safety laws that protect our children and communities.

“Getting it done means making America a global leader in the fight against climate change.

“Getting it done means creating good jobs with higher wages.

“Getting it done means addressing discrimination and inequality.

“Getting it done means creating a path to citizenship – and finally fixing our broken immigration system.

“And getting it done means protecting a woman’s right to choose.

“Our campaign is a fight for America’s ideals and values. It’s a fight to build a better future, for everyone – not to bring back a past that left so many out. It’s a fight we cannot afford to lose.

“So I need your help – and I need your vote. And when you talk to your friends and family, just tell them: if you want quality health insurance for everyone and not just empty promises, if you want to combat inequality with fairer taxes and better jobs, if you support my commitment to public education no matter what zip code you live in, if you share my belief in opportunity for all and not just for a few, if you are ready to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America, and if you are ready to clean out the Oval Office and get things done – then welcome to Bloomberg 2020. Thank you.”

Mike Bloomberg “Mike’s A Proven Leader” Blog Ads on the Pioneer Press Website. March 2, 2020

 

The Boston Herald, The Lowell Sun and Sentinel & Enterprise, and The Springfield Republican Endorse Mike Bloomberg

THREE MASSACHUSETTS NEWSPAPERS ENDORSE NATIVE SON MIKE BLOOMBERG FOR PRESIDENT

The Boston Herald, The Lowell Sun and Sentinel & Enterprise, and The Springfield Republican Endorse Bloomberg Ahead of Tomorrow’s Democratic Primary

NEW YORK — Ahead of tomorrow’s Democratic primary in Massachusetts, The Boston Herald, The Lowell Sun and Sentinel & Enterprise, and The Springfield Republican have all endorsed Mike Bloomberg for president. All three newspapers cited Mike’s record of taking on tough fights on critical issues and delivering results. 

“It’s clear that in this race, there’s only one candidate with a record of winning tough fights and bringing people together, and that candidate is Mike Bloomberg,” said Dan Kanninen, Bloomberg 2020 States Director. “In the remaining hours until polls open on Primary Day in Super Tuesday states around the country, our supporters, volunteers, and organizers are connecting with voters as we continue to build on our momentum in Massachusetts and beyond.”

With 58 staff members and six field offices across Massachusetts, Mike Bloomberg has built an organization that is uniquely positioned to reach voters no matter where they are. 

In Super Tuesday states, the Mike Bloomberg 2020 campaign has an organization that is unmatched. Since January 1, 2020, the campaign has had 10 million voter conversations, and hundreds of thousands of people have taken action with the campaign.

The campaign has 2,000+ staff on the ground across the country, with an additional 400 at its New York City headquarters. To date, the campaign has opened more than 200 offices around the country, including more than 100 across Super Tuesday states. 

In its endorsement, The Boston Herald said: 

He gets it —  he’s a businessman, and his private-sector experience as founder and CEO of Bloomberg LP informs his leadership.

Bernie Sanders, now leading the Democratic field, stands little chance against Donald Trump, as a socialist entirely out of touch with the mainstream and spirit of this country. Elizabeth Warren has proven to be a deeply flawed and failing candidate, as has Joe Biden. Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar, while they have had their moments, lack the depth and breadth of Bloomberg’s experience.

He’s offering sound solutions and grounded responses to issues facing the country such as health care funding, climate change and economic progress.

For Super Tuesday, the Herald endorses Michael Bloomberg in the Democratic presidential primary.

In its endorsement, The Lowell Sun and Sentinel & Enterprise said: 

Mike Bloomberg is many things. He is a billionaire businessman. He is an activist for progressive causes and a renowned philanthropist. He was a competent, technocratic mayor in the largest city in the country, providing focus and vision for New York City for over 12 years, beginning in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Bloomberg may not have laid his competition to waste during the debates but he was an alpha dog as mayor and certainly in business. Debate stagecraft is nice but it is not everything, and when facing President Trump, traditional rules of debating are out the window. Bloomberg’s accomplishments give him the ability to confront Trump in a asymmetrical fashion, the best approach in a tête-a-tête confrontation.

Bloomberg is wealthy enough to execute his candidacy in diverse ways, on every platform imaginable, saturating the voting public with this message:

“I am a doer and a problem solver — not a talker. I’ll put my record of accomplishment up against anyone. I’m ready to take on Donald Trump — and win.”

Simple enough.

None of his rivals could stake the claim that they are as accomplished as he or, more importantly, that they could defeat Trump.

In its endorsement, The Springfield Republican said:

Though the Democratic Party desperately needs to nominate a candidate who can defeat President Donald Trump in November, it doesn’t follow that the party should turn to someone making promises that can never be kept, offering solutions that are purely fantastical.

Democrats need to nominate a realist. And a uniter, someone to bring together both the party and the nation. They need a candidate who can win in states where winning matters, in the all-important Electoral College – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin. They need to nominate a candidate who can expect to get votes from liberals and moderates and even from some Republicans who have tired of the nonsense that has been the Trump presidency. Democrats also need to nominate someone who won’t frighten normal people with talk of revolution.

Mike Bloomberg is the candidate best positioned to do all of that, and more.

The former mayor of New York City is a pragmatist who gets results. He’s been wildly successful in business and in politics, has demonstrated an uncanny ability, in both arenas, to assemble successful teams, to find real-world solutions to actual problems. He’s also got the resources, from his own personal fortune, to be in the race for the long haul.

California Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber Endorses Mike Bloomberg for President

CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLYMEMBER SHIRLEY N. WEBER ENDORSES MIKE BLOOMBERG FOR PRESIDENT

Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and National Leader on Policing Reform Cites Mike’s Bold Progressive Record to Improve the Lives of Black Americans

SAN DIEGO — Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus and California Assemblymember Shirley N. Weber (D-San Diego), who led the passage of a policing reform bill in the state legislature that set a national standard for the use of force, today endorsed Democratic candidate Mike Bloomberg for president. Her announcement comes as Californians participate in early voting and prepare to head to the polls on Super Tuesday, March 3.

“Californians have two more days to decide who they will choose to take on Donald Trump, and the stakes could not be higher,” said Assemblymember Shirley Weber. “Mike is the only candidate with a real track record of not just talk but action on issues important to Californians — gun safety, public health and the environment. And he is the only candidate who has put forth a bold, progressive agenda to improve the lives of Black Americans — the Greenwood Initiative. We need smart and steady leadership to restore the damage of the last four years of the Trump Administration, and to uplift communities that have been ignored for too long. Mike is the only one with demonstrated experience to get the job done.”

“Dr. Shirley Weber has committed her career to creating opportunities for everyone, befitting someone born in a town named Hope,” said Mike Bloomberg. “She is a leader not just in southern California but across the Golden State. As the head of the California Legislative Black Caucus and a legislator, she has led on issues that are at the heart of my campaign, including improving education, reforming criminal justice, and fighting for equal rights and economic justice. I’m honored to have her endorsement.”

Assemblymember Weber was named the 2019 “Person of the Year” by the San Diego Union-Tribune for her work on a state bill that sets a stricter standard on the use of force. An advocate for education access and quality, Weber is also Professor Emerita and co-founder of the Africana Studies Department at San Diego State University.

She joins more than 100 current elected California officials who have endorsed Mike’s candidacy, including State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Congressmen Scott Peters, Juan Vargas, Harley Rouda, and Pete Aguilar, San Francisco Mayor London Breed, Stockton Mayor Michael Tubbs, Compton Mayor Aja Brown, and Chula Vista Mayor Mary Salas. Last week, NAACP Chapter President Reverend Amos Brown endorsed Mike at an event in San Francisco.

In January, Mike Bloomberg announced the Greenwood Initiative, a plan to address the systemic bias that has kept many Black Americans from building wealth. The Initiative lays out a path to the creation of 1 million new Black homeowners and 100,000 new Black-owned businesses in the next decade. The plan also includes a $70 billion investment in the country’s 100 most disadvantaged neighborhoods. He also released a comprehensive plan to restructure our country’s criminal justice system which will protect people at every touchpoint in the justice system. As president, he will break the cycle of violence and curb police use of force, address injustice in the courtroom and reform excessive sentencing, re-imagine our prisons and focus probation on reintegration, and help people re-enter society with dignity and a renewed sense of optimism.

Statement from Mike Bloomberg 2020 Campaign Manager Kevin Sheekey on the South Carolina Democratic Primary

STATEMENT FROM MIKE BLOOMBERG 2020 CAMPAIGN MANAGER KEVIN SHEEKEY ON THE SOUTH CAROLINA DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

"Mike Bloomberg has not been on the ballot yet. Our campaign is focused on organizing Democrats and building infrastructure in states all around the country. Mike is the only candidate to campaign in all fourteen Super Tuesday states over the last two months and we look forward to Tuesday. Mike’s record of successfully leading and managing through crises and challenges is exactly what Americans are looking for in a new President."

Mike Bloomberg to Address the Nation on COVID-19 and the Response America Needs and Deserves in a Crisis

MIKE BLOOMBERG TO ADDRESS THE NATION ON COVID-19 AND THE RESPONSE AMERICA NEEDS AND DESERVES IN A CRISIS

Mike Bloomberg has led in moments of crisis, has the experience to handle the coronavirus outbreak
NEW YORK — Tomorrow night, Mike Bloomberg will deliver a three minute television address to the nation on the coronavirus which is threatening the population. In the unprecedented candidate address, Mike will outline the facts: coronavirus is spreading; the economy is plummeting; and America needs a leader with the experience to handle the crisis. The taped address entitled ‘Leadership In Crisis’ will air during commercial airtime on CBS and NBC at approximately 8:30 PM ET on Sunday night.

President Donald Trump is putting lives at risk by ignoring science and dismissing the spread of the virus as a “hoax”. His actions are dangerous and his communication with the American people is dishonest. Mike is an experienced crisis manager who will restore stable leadership and trust in the White House.

“At times like this, it is the job of the President to reassure the public that he or she is taking all the steps necessary to protect the health and well-being of every citizen,” says Mike Bloomberg. “The public wants to know their leader is trained, informed and respected. When a problem arises, they want someone in charge who can marshal facts and expertise to confront the problem.” Full remarks are below.

President Trump’s reckless cuts to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding and his senseless elimination of protective measures put in place following the pandemic Ebola virus outbreak have put Americans in danger, leaving the nation underprepared for the spread of coronavirus. If the government wants to keep Americans safe, the CDC and the National Institutes of Health must be given all of the resources necessary to do their job free of political interference.

As president, Mike will use his experience as a crisis manager to make decisions based on data, and then empower the doctors and scientists whose job it is to keep us safe.

Earlier today, Mike announced that he would invite back scientists forced out of the federal government during the Trump Administration. On Wednesday, even before President Trump had his press conference about COVID-19, Mike put forward a plan to prepare the country for public health crises. This plan will prepare hospitals for pandemics, fully fund federal government preparedness efforts, and invest in scientific research that enables resilience to emerging public health threats.

Mike Bloomberg’s Address to the Nation: “Leadership in Crisis”
REMARKS AS DELIVERED

Good evening. I know this has been a very worrisome week for many Americans.

The Coronavirus is spreading, and the economy is taking a hit. Markets have fallen because of uncertainty.

At times like this it is the job of the President to reassure the public that he or she is taking all the necessary steps to protect the health and well-being of every citizen.

The public wants to know their leader is trained, informed and respected. When a problem arises, they want someone in charge who can marshal facts and expertise to confront the problem.

They want him or her to prepare for events like these in advance with teams of experts.

Communications must be honest and transparent, so people can be confident that professionals are in charge. Trust is essential.

Government’s resources must be focused and priorities clear and consistent.

Presidents have vast tools at their disposal — and they must be used effectively and decisively. This includes building strong, cooperative relationships with nations around the world to prevent and prepare for pandemics and other global emergencies that cross borders.

The Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health must be given all of the resources necessary to do their job free of political interference.

Decisions must be based on data and must empower the doctors and scientists whose job it is to keep us safe.

As the former mayor of New York City, I know it is critical that the federal government work in close partnership with state and local leaders who administer services and deploy first responders. That requires putting politics and partisanship aside.

I was first elected just weeks after the attack on 9/11 — a massive rebuilding, security and health challenge. In my 12 years in office I dealt with a hurricane, a blackout, attempted terror attacks, the West Nile virus and swine flu.

My method of leadership was to plan ahead before the problem arrived – we worked with hospitals and first responders to develop plans in advance, to improve communication and to invest in preparedness.

Through the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins, I understood the challenges hospitals and medical professionals face and we worked as a team to upgrade readiness.

Each crisis is different, but they all require steady leadership, team building and preparation.

As Americans we have faced many challenges before, and we have overcome them together by looking out for one another — and I am confident that is how we will get through this one as well.

I’m Mike Bloomberg and I approve this message.