As The Daily Wire reported yesterday, far-left New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week his candidacy for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. He is the 24th Democrat to run and, according to polling and prediction markets alike, has a very slim chance of ultimately securing the nomination.
“The Dems are getting another beauty to join their group,” President Donald Trump snarkily tweeted on Thursday morning. “Bill de Blasio of NYC, considered the worst mayor in the U.S., will supposedly be making an announcement for president today. He is a JOKE, but if you like high taxes & crime, he’s your man. NYC HATES HIM!”
Later in the day yesterday, Trump doubled down in a video accompanying a tweet that read: “[Bill de Blasio] is the worst Mayor in the history of New York City – he won’t last long!”
Now, the head of New York City Police Benevolent Association (PBA), the union that represents about two-thirds of NYPD officers, has weighed in. And it’s a doozy.
The PBA’s official Twitter account tweeted: “#BREAKING Statement from PBA President Lynch on [Mayor Bill de Blasio’s] Presidential Run. “While the mayor of our nation’s largest city is busy running around Iowa and getting upstaged by the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, there are real problems here at home.”
PBA President Patrick Lynch’s full statement is absolutely devastating for de Blasio, who is notoriously hostile to law enforcement. It lambasts the mayor for “six years of disrespect for the police officers who keep our city safe.” Most directly, the statement also bluntly states: “As commander-in-chief, he would be an unmitigated disaster.”
Jordan Schachtel of Conservative Review elaborates on the acrimonious history between de Blasio and the NYPD: “New York City police officers have regularly spoken out about the New York City mayor, who ran an anti-police mayoral campaign. During his tenure as mayor, de Blasio been openly hostile to law enforcement. During NYPD funerals, police officers have regularly turned their backs on the mayor to express their disdain for his leadership.”
Remarkably, even the overwhelming majority of de Blasio’s own constituents do not want the hardcore leftist to seek the presidency. Axios notes that “76% of registered voters in New York do not think de Blasio should run for president, according to a Quinnipiac University poll.” Axios also highlights some of the other staunch criticisms that de Blasio has faced since announcing his presidential bid:
- When de Blasio was interviewed on Good Morning America after announcing his presidential bid, he was met by protestors with signs reading “Liar.”
- Mike Gravel, former Alaska governor and fellow 2020 Democratic presidential contender, said: “I don’t think he’s a very good mayor,” adding he isn’t sure why de Blasio would even bother running, per the Washington Post.
- Other New Yorkers think the field of Democratic nominees is too crowded and de Blasio doesn’t stand a chance, per local outlet Spectrum News.
- Even before he announced his presidential bid, some of de Blasio’s closest allies warned him against a 2020 run calling it “f—ing insane,” per Politico.