The former CEO of Starbucks is considering an independent candidacy at the White House

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27 (Reuters) – Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said Sunday that he was considering becoming an independent president of the United States, upsetting some Democrats who believe he would compromise the chances of their party beating Republican President Donald Trump in 2020.

"I am seriously thinking of running for president, I will be an independent centrist candidate," said Schultz in an interview with CBS '60 Minutes.

Schultz claimed to have been a "democrat for life" but criticized the Republican and Democratic parties in the interview. "The two parties do not systematically do what is necessary on behalf of the American people and are engaged every day in a policy of revenge," Schultz told CBS.

The Democratic Party of Schultz, Washington, has posted on Twitter the photo of a Starbucks coffee mug with the message "Do not Howard it!". scribbled on the side. "

Schultz, a 65-year-old Liberal, is known for his outspokenness on issues ranging from gay marriage to government deadlock. He announced in June that he was pulling out of the coffee chain he had built to become a world power, fueling speculation about a possible presidential campaign.

He was almost always at Starbucks for almost forty years and created the inclusive culture of society.

Democratic colleagues responded to his interview with CSB with concern. Julian Castro, a former senior US housing official who had launched an offer for the Democratic nomination earlier this month, told CNN that he feared that an independent Schultz executive "is giving to Donald Trump his best hope of being re-elected ".

"There is no point in that, and it is urgent that the Democratic candidate win it in 2020," Democratic Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii wrote on Twitter.

Schultz, which has introduced many Americans to high-end coffees and other espresso, has led Seattle-based Starbucks to more than 28 cafes in more than 28,000 countries in 77 countries and has allowed many investors to make huge gains.

He stepped down as CEO in 2000, but took over in 2008 after the housing crisis in the United States sent Starbucks, which had seen a dramatic expansion.

Schultz, who closed hundreds of stores and transformed the company, transferred the general manager position to Kevin Johnson in April 2017, but remained active within the company until June. (Report by Susan Cornwell, edited by Cynthia Osterman)

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