Election 2020: Fox Host Slams Trump As Fake Billionaire, 'Took Advantage Of Tax Loopholes'

Self-made billionaire he isn't. President Donald Trump has long claimed he doesn't owe his success to his billionaire father, Fred Trump. On the other hand, a New York Times expose in 2018 revealed Trump received $413 million (adjusted for inflation) over five decades from his late father.

“I built what I built myself,” Trump the son keeps bragging.

Juan Williams, co-host of "The Five" panel weekday talk show on Fox News Channel, has long been skeptical of Donald Trump's billionaire status and he again made this sentiment public. On Monday's edition of the show, Williams said new Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg is the only "real" billionaire running for president in 2020.

"So, now we have a billionaire versus a billionaire," said Williams on the show. "But I think it's a real billionaire versus the guy who got his start from his dad and took advantage of bankruptcy laws (and) tax loopholes."

Bloomberg, 77, is way, way ahead of Trump in the billionaire class. Forbes' latest estimate is Bloomberg has a net worth of $54.1 billion. This wealth makes Bloomberg the richest person in New York and the ninth richest person in the U.S. Bloomberg co-founded financial information and media company Bloomberg LP in 1981 and still owns 88% of the company.

Trump, on the other hand, is worth an estimated $3.1 billion, according to Forbes. His wealth ranks Trump as the 248th richest person in the U.S. Trump's refusal to release his tax returns makes an accurate estimate of his wealth difficult. Some of Trump's critics say Trump's tax returns will prove he isn't a billionaire, after all.

Williams, who appeared sympathetic to Bloomberg's candidacy in an already crowded Democrat field, said Bloomberg's constituency consists of Americans concerned with the economy.

Williams believes a likely Bloomberg supporter might say, "I want someone to create jobs and I want someone who has a proven track record. And I'm a pragmatist. I'm a centrist. Joe Biden's not going to make it. So vote for Michael Bloomberg."

Williams has been a long-time critic of Trump. In July 2019, Williams exchanged barbs with other hosts of "The Five" over whether Trump is a racist.

"Let me tell you, it's a fact (that Trump is racist). It's a fact. It is a fact," Williams asserted.

The next month, Williams drew Trump's anger by saying on Fox News he thinks "Trump's brutish approach (to trade with China) is the problem."

Trump replied to Williams' tirade with a tweet saying the Fox host is "pathetic" and "always nasty and wrong."