Mike Bloomberg To DNC: 'God Help Us' If Trump is Elected President

The former Republican mayor of New York City, Mike Bloomberg, endorsed the very Democratic candidate for president, Hillary Clinton, at Wednesday night's Democratic National Convention. But it was his stinging rebuke of Donald Trump which will be most talked about Thursday.

Bloomberg was given a plum speaking spot before vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine in a somewhat surprising move. Bloomberg opened his speech saying he was not at the DNC to endorse a party but instead called specifically for voters to elect Clinton over the Republican nominee.

"I’m not here as a member of any party, or to endorse any party platform," Bloomberg said. "I am here for one reason, and one reason only: to explain why I believe it is imperative that we elect Hillary Clinton as the next president of the United States."

The former mayor took plenty of shots at his fellow billionaire throughout his speech.

"There are times when I disagree with Hillary," Bloomberg said. "But whatever our disagreements may be, I’ve come here to say: We must put them aside for the good of our country. And we must unite around the candidate who can defeat a dangerous demagogue."

He would later mention Trump by name about halfway through his speech.

"Trump has left behind a well-documented record of bankruptcies, thousands of lawsuits, angry shareholders and contractors who feel cheated, and disillusioned customers who feel ripped off," Bloomberg said. "Trump says he wants to run the nation like he’s run his business. God help us. I’m a New Yorker, and New Yorkers know a con when we see one."

It was at that point Bloomberg's speech began to feel more like a roast.

"The bottom line is: Trump is a risky, reckless and radical choice," Bloomberg said.

While Bloomberg ran as a Republican for mayor initially, he previously supported the Democratic party, and by his second term in office he was officially an independent. It was that tone which Bloomberg struck in his speech Wednesday.

"When I enter the voting booth each time, I look at the candidate, not the party label," Bloomberg said. "I have supported elected officials from both sides of the aisle."

He again struck that tone, after taking on Trump, to close out his speech.

"There is no doubt in my mind Hillary Clinton is the right choice this November," Bloomberg said. "So tonight, as an independent, I am asking you to join with me, not out of party loyalty, but out of love of country."

Bloomberg considered running for president himself in 2016. He admitted he explored the possibility but pulled his name out of contention on March 7 in a column for his own media empire.

Photo credit: Katie Chao and Ben Muessig via Flickr/Creative Commons