Speed Reads

looking to 2020

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz 'seriously considering' running for president

Former Starbucks Chairman and CEO Howard Schultz announced on Twitter Sunday night that he is "seriously considering" running for president.

In a series of tweets, Schultz, 65, said he wants to use Twitter to "share my truth, listen to yours, build trust, and focus on things that can make us better." Schultz is considering running as a "centrist independent," because this "moment is like no other. Our two parties are more divided than ever." He invited people to visit his website so they can "discuss how we can come together to create opportunities for more people."

In a 60 Minutes interview that aired Sunday night, Schultz said he's a lifelong Democrat, but feels that the major parties are both to blame for the national debt, which is a "reckless failure of their constitutional responsibility." When asked by correspondent Scott Pelley if he's concerned he will take votes away from a Democratic candidate, ensuring a second term for President Trump, Schultz said he wants to "see the American people win. I wanna see America win. I don't care if you're a Democrat, independent, Libertarian, Republican. Bring me your ideas. And I will be an independent person who will embrace those ideas. Because I am not, in any way, in bed with a party."