Judge Judy says she's endorsing 'brilliant' Michael Bloomberg because 'I've never seen America so angry'

Judge Judy has ruled that Michael Bloomberg is the presidential candidate for her.

After first endorsing him in an October op-ed — before the billionaire businessman had officially entered the 2020 election race — the TV judge, whose real name is Judy Sheindlin, discussed her decision on Monday’s The View. During the show, a commercial she made in support of the Democratic candidate aired as well.

Sheindlin, who had not previously shared any political stances before supporting Bloomberg, told the co-hosts that she’s backing Bloomberg because “I’ve never seen America so angry with each other as a family. Because of that, “I felt as if it was time for America, which is the greatest country in the world, to have the greatest president.”

Sheindlin said in looking “at the field of 2020 candidates” ready to take on President Donald Trump, there “was no other voice for me other than a voice of someone who has experience in governance second only to the president of the United States.” (The New York City native disagreed with Joy Behar that Joe Biden has more experience as former VP and decades in the Senate.)

Sheindlin went on to say that New Yorkers had “a good feeling” during his “12 years as mayor.” (Bloomberg infamously won a third term in office after pushing to change term limits.) She said she herself “felt that way when he was the mayor” because she felt he was running the city “effectively and efficiently.” She went on to call him an “honest man” and “a brilliant, self-made guy who runs and manages thousands of people and has for 30 years.” She also cited his philanthropy and his support of “things that we all care about — gun control and climate change and spending his money to do it in all sorts of ways across America.”

She also defended his wealth, saying defining Bloomberg “as just another rich guy is one of the greatest injustices... If he's successful and happened to have made money being successful, that, folks, is the American dream.” (Sheindlin has achieved the American dream by her standards. She’s the highest-paid TV host and worth a reported $420 million.)

During her interview, she also defended his stance on gun control (“He's not taking away people's Second Amendment rights” ) and said she believes his about-face on the NYPD’s stop and frisk policing policy was genuine. However, she noted, “I am not a Michael Bloomberg surrogate.”

Though, that’s debatable. Now perhaps his best-known backer, she is appearing in a new political ad for him which debuted today and ran on the show.

She is also expected to appear on other networks — including CNN — to support him. She’ll also join him this weekend on the campaign trail in Texas.

Monday’s appearance on The View, however, could make her campaigning a rough road. Commenters on The View’s own tweet showing her interview were largely negative — both for Bloomberg and her support of him.

In October, Sheindlin wrote an op-ed for Bloomberg in USA Today though he didn’t confirm he was running until the following month.

"I realize I am taking a personal and a career risk," she wrote. "I have carefully stayed away from politics for 50 years, except to vote. But times have changed in our country, and I believe the moment has come for me to step out from behind the curtain. I want to speak honestly and from the heart – regardless of the consequences."

She continued, "Our American family has been fractured in recent years. We’re hopelessly divided, and a bitterly divided family cannot thrive. The only way we can begin to come together again, I said, is if Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City, becomes our next president."

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