Liberal activist and filmmaker Michael Moore on Wednesday said President Donald Trump is a "tumor" on the political system but predicted he will hold onto the White House in 2020 if Democrats don't run a "beloved American" or non-politician.
Moore appeared on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" to discuss the midterm election results from Tuesday night and how they will affect the 2020 election. He said Trump is a "tumor on our democracy" but noted Democratic victories caused the "tumor" to shrink last night.
"He has ripped apart and has taken us to the precipice of whether or not we are going to have the country we thought we used to have or that we were going to have," Moore said. " I come from one of those three states, Michigan, that put him over the top in the electoral college vote. Last night those three states, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin, as you pointed out on the show, all went blue."
Moore went on to say he saw a lot of "good news" from the midterms, but he warned Trump was a "true danger" because he is "so much smarter" than Democrats on optics and using the media.
"Our side– nobody has ever taken him seriously, has never understood his power, his ability to read a room, his ability to manipulate people with fear. The man is a genius in this area. He's an evil genius, but to not respect how smart he's been in doing this."
He then pivoted to talk about potential 2020 candidates on the Democratic side, prompting him to ask his the panel who they believe could beat Trump in 2020.
"Kamala Harris," said co-host Mika Brzezinski of the junior senator from California.
Moore quickly quipped, "No," prompting Brzezinski to list off her qualifications. Moore shot her down and mentioned Sen. Cory Booker (D., N.J.), who is also often floated as a potential candidate, before dismissing him too. He said Democrats can't beat Trump with another politician.
"We have to run a beloved American. Obama became beloved the night of that convention and he was beloved from that moment on," Moore said.
Co-host Joe Scarborough asked frequent MSNBC guest Eddie Glaude Jr. whether he could think of anybody who could beat Trump, prompting Glaude to give a speechless shake of his head.
"It's gotta be like a Michelle Obama or a Sully Sullenberger. Why aren't we thinking along the lines of 'who can defeat him?' We will lose in 2020," Moore said.
There have been over 30 Democrats floated as potential contenders against Trump in 2020, including political outsiders Oprah Winfrey, Howard Schultz, and Michael Avenatti.