President Donald Trump shocked the world and won the 2016 election by branding himself as a D.C. outsider with unconventional methods.
One of the unconventional strategies he’s known for is giving his rivals a nickname. If a political opponent is on Trump’s radar, they get a nickname — and his latest nickname could offer insight into the 2020 general election.
Trump has recently coined the name “Mini” Mike Bloomberg for the billionaire former New York City mayor, who is surging in the Democratic primary polls.
Whether voters like Trump’s nicknaming or not, it could offer a peek behind at Trump’s playbook heading towards the November election.
Trump has taken notice of Bloomberg’s rise among Democratic voters. The two New Yorkers recently had it out in a social media exchange, in which they traded barbs after Trump ramped up the attacks.
“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!”
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’s sharp rise in popularity may also be aided by the fact that many of his 2020 Democratic rivals are coming after him, which suggests that everyone involved in the 2020 race is taking Bloomberg seriously.
Including Trump.
But as much as the President has been sounding off about Bloomberg, he’s surprisingly said little regarding former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttegieg, whose performance in the Iowa Democratic caucuses and New Hampshire has grabbed headlines.
No nickname for Mayor Pete from Trump. He remains Mayor Pete for now.
Could this be because Trump doesn’t view Buttegieg as a threat to his re-election? Trump’s former and current rivals — Jeb “Low Energy” Bush, “Sleepy Joe” Biden and “Crazy Bernie” Sanders to name a few — all seem to have one thing in common.
At one point or another, they were considered serious contenders to the president.
Princeton University Professor Julian Zelizer predicted that Buttegieg will catch Trump’s eye sooner or later.
“Whenever Trump sees a threat, he attacks the threat. He will be watching and will unleash, should this intensify,” he said.
In the meantime, Trump has been quiet about Mayor Pete.
Perhaps the White House’s internal polling tells them something different?