Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said on Sunday that he is “seriously considering” running for president as a “centrist independent” in 2020.
“We’re living at a most fragile time,” Schultz said in a 60 Minutes interview with CBS’s Scott Pelley.
“Not only the fact that this President is not qualified to be the president, but the fact that both parties are consistently not doing what’s necessary on behalf of the American people and are engaged every single day in revenge politics.”
Responding to a question about his business experience, he said that he had “a long history of recognizing [that] I’m not the smartest person in the room.”
“In order to make great decisions about complex problems, I have to recruit and attract people who are smarter than me and more experienced, more skilled, and we’ve got to create an understanding that we need a creative debate in the room to make these kind of decisions,” Schultz said.
Schultz explains in the interview how he wanted “see the American people win.”
“I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, independent, Libertarian, Republican. Bring me your ideas. And I will be an independent person who will embrace those ideas,” he said. “Because I am not, in any way, in bed with a party.”
He also spread the word himself on Twitter:
I love our country, and I am seriously considering running for president as a centrist independent.
— Howard Schultz (@HowardSchultz) January 28, 2019
Howard Schultz mocked by Donald Trump
In the interview, Schultz targeted Trump’s social media behavior and blasted both the GOP and the Democrats for what he called a “reckless failure.”
“I think, like most people, I’ve become bored with President Trump and his tweets,” Schultz told CBS.
President Donald Trump responded fast and on Monday mocked the former Starbucks CEO, saying the business titan “Doesn’t have the ‘guts’ to run for President!”
“Watched him on last night and I agree with him that he is not the ‘smartest person’,” Trump wrote. “Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!”
Howard Schultz doesn’t have the “guts” to run for President! Watched him on @60Minutes last night and I agree with him that he is not the “smartest person.” Besides, America already has that! I only hope that Starbucks is still paying me their rent in Trump Tower!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2019
Trump’s reaction comes as Democrats warn that Schultz’s participation in the race could spur a greater share of Democratic votes than Republican ones and therefore help Trump win the reelection in 2020.
After Schultz announced his plans to run for president, a lot of politicians and experts reacted, urging him to take a step back.
“Has ever heard the old saying, ‘The road to hell is paved with good intentions?’ ” Tweeted Larry Sabato, a top political analyst and the director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. “Someone should explain it to him. His slogan might as well be, ‘Re-elect Trump’.”
It’s obvious. If we nominate someone w/ extreme positions that don’t reflect the majority of Americans, then people like Schultz will run b/c they see an opportunity in the center with moderates. If that happens, Trump wins. We need a big tent candidate. https://t.co/XXNHKI18vI
— John K. Delaney (@JohnKDelaney) January 27, 2019
Julian Castro, another 2020 candidate, told CNN that a Schultz run “would provide Donald Trump with his best hope of getting re-elected.”
The Washington State Democratic Party has also been upset about Schultz’s announcement. Tina Podlodowski sent an email to donors calling Schultz run a “worst-case scenario,” according to The Atlantic.
— WA Democrats (@washdems) January 26, 2019
Twitter reacts to Howard Schultz running for President
After saying that he’s considering a “centrist independent” thousands of people on Twitter reacted—and it’s probably not the reactions he wanted.
His tweet now has 36,000 replies and 17,000 likes, still counting.
No, YOU talk to him. We’re not related.
— Connie Schultz (@ConnieSchultz) January 28, 2019
First question: why is a “Grande” the medium? https://t.co/rdNxt9dNAO
— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) January 28, 2019
JUST STOP BURNING YOUR COFFEE THAT IS ALL WE ASK https://t.co/jTFvsG2N4T
— Sam Sanders (@samsanders) January 28, 2019
Fire the person who told you this was a good idea
— Molly Knight (@molly_knight) January 28, 2019
I love our country, and I am seriously considering running for president as a centrist independent.
— Howard Schultz (@HowardSchultz) January 28, 2019
howard schultz better not run or he’s gonna get “roasted”!
— Elizabeth Bruenig (@ebruenig) January 28, 2019
The kicker of the NYT interview w Schultz is kind of telling. He just takes for granted that “a far-left progressive Democrat” would lose to Trump. In reality, in *every* trial heat, Trump loses to Bernie Sanders; in most, he loses to Elizabeth Warren. pic.twitter.com/r8BvIeY5hC
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 28, 2019
This tweet, like your coffee, leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
— Daniel Powell (@danieljpowell) January 28, 2019
Howard Schultz (worth $3 billion), Michael Bloomberg ($48 billion), and Jamie Dimon ($1.3 billion) all now flirting w/ running for prez because Trump showed anyone can win w/ enough money, gall, and BS. But Trump also showed America the consequences of making such a person prez.
— Robert Reich (@RBReich) January 28, 2019
Sweet launch, Howard Schultz. pic.twitter.com/TNfDJaN3x2
— Schooley (@Rschooley) January 28, 2019
