Michael Bloomberg Slams Democrats for Hiding Biden's Health Issues

Michael Bloomberg recently criticized the Democratic Party for concealing President Joe Biden's health problems, contributing to a decisive election victory for Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Bloomberg, the former mayor of New York City, penned an op-ed last Thursday in which he addressed the Democratic Party's actions regarding Joe Biden's declining health and their impact on the recent presidential election, highlighting strategic errors that culminated in Biden being replaced by Vice President Kamala Harris shortly before the election, as the New York Post reports.

The former mayor expressed discontent with how the party managed Biden's health issues, which were not revealed until a pivotal -- and devastating -- debate on live television. This incident, according to Bloomberg, severely hampered the Democrats' credibility and electoral prospects.

Early Signs and Public Reaction

Leading up to his withdrawal from the re-election campaign in July, Biden faced significant public scrutiny over his capability to lead owing to his age. At 81, he was the focus of ongoing debates concerning his physical and cognitive fitness to serve another term.

Surveys from August 2023 indicated that 77% of Americans believed Biden was too old to handle the presidency for another four years. This widespread concern reached a boiling point during a notably poor debate performance, which ultimately pushed Biden to terminate his campaign.

Shortly after his decision to step down on July 21, Biden endorsed Harris, passing along his campaign infrastructure to her in an effort to maintain Democratic control of the White House.

Bloomberg's Financial Support and Critique

Despite his criticisms, Bloomberg donated a significant sum of $50 million to a nonprofit supporting Harris's campaign last month. This followed a history of substantial contributions to Democratic causes, including $47 million in 2022 for congressional races and over $350 million in previous national elections.

His financial commitment to the Democratic Party was evident when he spent $1.1 billion on his own presidential campaign in 2020 and $100 million to support Biden's efforts in Florida during the same cycle.

However, Bloomberg was initially reluctant to support Harris. His hesitation stemmed from her previous presidential campaign failures and the manner in which she was nominated, which he described as not ideal.

Reflections on Democratic Strategy

Bloomberg's op-ed not only criticized the concealment of Biden's health issues but also the decision to nominate Harris, who had not secured any electoral votes in her prior presidential run. He labeled these decisions as strategic missteps that needed reevaluation.

"It probably wasn’t great to cover up President Joe Biden’s infirmities until they became undeniable on live TV," Bloomberg stated, highlighting the lack of transparency from the Democrats.

Regarding Harris's nomination, Bloomberg reflected, "It wasn’t ideal for 'party elders' to replace him with a nominee who had received no electoral votes and had failed decisively in a previous presidential run."

Looking Toward the Future

Bloomberg's critique extends beyond past actions to a broader reflection on the Democratic Party's future strategies. He suggested that the party needs to deeply analyze how they managed to lose to Trump, especially considering the previous support for Biden.

Despite his initial reservations, discussions about Harris's economic and housing plans persuaded him to eventually support her. "Was not impressed with Harris," Bloomberg remarked, signifying his continued concerns about the party's choice of leadership.

As the Democrats regroup following their electoral defeat, Bloomberg’s comments have sparked a conversation about leadership, transparency, and electoral strategy within the party.