Warren Buffett says he would back Bloomberg but jokes ‘another billionaire supporting him’ doesn’t look good

Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in the world, on Monday said he “would certainly vote for” former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg for president, but joked that “another billionaire supporting” the Democratic hopeful might not be helpful.

“I don’t think another billionaire supporting him would be the best thing to announce,” he added, laughing. Bloomberg is also among the top 10 richest men in the world.

I would vote for Mike Bloomberg over Sanders if given the choice, says Warren Buffett pic.twitter.com/fScTuWp3SD

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) February 24, 2020

In an appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Buffett said “no” when he was asked if he would be interested in buying Bloomberg’s company if Bloomberg becomes president.

Bloomberg has pledged to sell Bloomberg LP if he wins.

“There will be no confusion about any of his financial holdings blurring the line between public service and personal profiteering,” Bloomberg’s adviser Timothy O’Brien told CNN last week.

“There’d be somebody who’d pay more,” Warren told CNBC of the potential of purchasing Bloomberg’s company.

I would not consider buying Bloomberg LP if Mike Bloomberg becomes president, says Warren Buffett pic.twitter.com/FIOSQ6xsAi

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) February 24, 2020

Buffett, who chairs Berkshire Hathaway, maintained that he is “going to wait and see who gets the nomination,” but said he would “certainly” support Bloomberg over current Democratic front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) “if given the choice.”

“I don’t think I want to get into handicapping the race, but I would say this in terms of Sanders: I actually agree with him in terms of certain things he would like to accomplish,” he said, saying of the capitalist system, “We ought to do better by the people who get left behind by our capitalist system,” but “I don’t think we should kill the capital system in the process.”

He said he is “a Democrat but not a card-carrying Democrat” because he’s voted for and contributed to some Republican candidates. 

“I’m a Democrat, but not a card-carrying Democrat” says Warren Buffett on the 2020 election #AskWarren pic.twitter.com/ycsC5bWBk1

— Squawk Box (@SquawkCNBC) February 24, 2020