President Donald Trump patted Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on the back — and then chided him about mainstream Democratic resistance — after the democratic socialist scored a commanding win in Nevada’s presidential caucuses.
In a tweet Saturday, Trump sized up the rest of the Democratic field as “weak,” trashed talk fellow billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn’t in the race, and mocked what Trump views as a primary process that robbed Sanders of the 2016 nomination.
“Looks like Crazy Bernie is doing well in the Great State of Nevada. Biden & the rest look weak, & no way Mini Mike can restart his campaign after the worst debate performance in the history of Presidential Debates,” Trump said. “Congratulations Bernie, & don’t let them take it away from you!”
Joe Biden was in second place in the Nevada caucuses — which offered the first chance for White House hopefuls to demonstrate their appeal to a diverse group of voters — while Pete Buttigieg and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren trailed further behind. South Carolina’s primary is next up, followed by Super Tuesday March 3.
Sanders, 78, took Nevada by rallying his base and tapping into support from Nevada’s large Latino community.
Multi-billionaire Mike Bloomberg, who wasn't on the Nevada ballot, has emerged as a threat to Biden, but took a hard hit in a poor first debate against the field of Democrats last week. He's betting everything on a series of delegate-rich states that begin voting next month.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.