Israeli-American media mogul and philanthropist Haim Saban said that if former Starbucks CEO and chairman Howard Schultz runs for president in 2020 as an independent he would improve President Donald Trump’s chances of being reelected, CNBC reported.
Saban, an active donor to Jewish and Israeli causes, including Friends of Israel Defense Forces and the Israeli American Council, has echoed those who say Schultz’s run as third-party candidate could potentially guarantee a Trump victory as he would attract voters who would otherwise vote for the Democratic nominee.
“I don’t discount Howard’s ability to beat the odds. However, [it’s] very hard to borderline impossible to win the presidency as an independent,” Saban said, as quoted by CNBC in a Jan. 29 story. “He guarantees Trump a second term.”
During a Jan. 27 interview with “60 Minutes,” Schultz said he is considering running as an independent in the 2020 presidential election. The Jewish businessman was asked during the CBS news program how his Jewish would affect his campaign.
“I am Jewish. I have faith in God. I’m not running as a Jew if I decide to run for president,” Schultz said. “I’m running as an American who happens to be Jewish.”
