Rupert Murdoch: Donald Trump ‘becoming very serious candidate’ so Michael

Bloomberg, who retired as a three-term New York City mayor past year, rejoined his Bloomberg media empire in an operational role, and has generally demurred when it comes to suggestions he might run for a higher office.

He then then heaped praise on the former Mayor for cleaning up New York City. John McCain’s status as a war hero.

He also sent a tweet suggesting Trump could emerge “unscathed” from the first GOP debate earlier this month and another saying his popularity is “based on frustration with DC and endless regulations over people’s lives”.

Mark Wallheiser/Getty Images Murdoch’s views on Donald Trump’s candidacy may be changing.

Murdoch later seemed to qualify his support.

The apparent public draft of Bloomberg was followed by tweets from Murdoch calling the former mayor a “great philanthropic executive“, and clarifying that he didn’t say he would vote for him, necessarily.

As for the presidential nudge from Murdoch, well, Bloomberg did not respond to a tweeted request for comment.

“What was supposed to be a very stage-managed succession to the nominations by Clinton and Bush has been completely thrown into disarray and the businessman idea, the straighttalking, no nonsense practical person who has run a large organization – which certainly describes Michael Bloomberg“.

Coincidentally, New York magazine reported Sunday that Bloomberg recently said “through a spokesperson that he was not interested in buying” the Times. Murdoch wrote. “Just a friend I admire”.