Michael Bloomberg's recent past has threatened to derail his campaign to unseat Donald Trump in the White House, as the former mayor of New York's very public statements and lawsuits have illustrated his alleged sexism, support for racial profiling, transphobia, and – perhaps most damaging – his affection for the president.

Joe Biden targeted Mr Bloomberg in a campaign ad, sharing a 2011 clip of the billionaire saying, "I'm a friend of Donald Trump's. He's a New York icon."

But in another video, taken one month after Mr Trump's election in 2016, Mr Bloomberg says that he told the president-elect that he loves him and believes he's a "nice person".

During an appearance at Oxford University, Mr Bloomberg fondly remembered a conversation with then-citizen Trump at a 9/11 memorial service.

He said Mr Trump told him that he saw his speech to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where Mr Bloomberg called the then-nominee a "dangerous demagogue".

Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures







16 show all Democratic candidates compete on the campaign trail: In pictures





























1/16 A man holds up a sign criticising billionaires in the presidential race in front of Michael Bloomberg in Compton, Califronia. The former New York mayor skipped the first caucus in Iowa and instead campaigned in California on 3 February Reuters

2/16 Elizabeth Warren is presented with a balloon effigy of herself at a campaign event in Nashua, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters

3/16 A Trump supporter rides past a rally for Amy Klobuchar in Des Moines, Iowa on 14 January AP

4/16 Amy Klobuchar changes her shoes backstage after giving a speech in Exeter, New Hampshire AFP/Getty

5/16 A warmly-wrapped-up dog attends an Elizabeth Warren event at Amherst Elementary School in Nashua, New Hampshire AFP/Getty

6/16 Bernie Sanders, who romped to victory in New Hampshire against Hillary Clinton in 2016, talks to the media in Manchester Getty

7/16 Lisa Olney, of Wellesley, Massachussets, demonstrates her support for Elizabeth Warren in Nashua, New Hampshire Getty

8/16 Joe Biden was hoping to improve on his poor showing in Iowa in the New Hampshire primary Reuters

9/16 Elizabeth Warren, renowned for giving time to supporters for selfies, works the crowd at the University of New Hampshire in Durham Getty

10/16 Joe Biden takes a selfie with a supporter and his child outside a campaign event in Somersworth, New Hampshire on 5 February Reuters

11/16 Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders quarrel after a confrontation in a TV debate in which Sanders claimed that Warren was not telling the truth about a conversation in which she claimed he had said a woman could not win the presidency on 14 January AP

12/16 Supporter Pat Provencher listens to Pete Buttigieg in Laconia, New Hampshire on 4 February Getty

13/16 Elizabeth Warren jogs away after speaking to reporters during a campaign event in Nashau, New Hampshire Getty

14/16 Supporters of Amy Klobuchar gather before a rally. Behind them, scores of Pete Buttigieg signs are planted in the snowy ground AP

15/16 Pete Buttigieg speaks at a campaign event in Concord, New Hampshire while awaiting the results of the Iowa caucus Reuters

16/16 Candidates take part in the CNN debate before the Iowa caucus on 14 January. From left to right: Billionaire-philanthropist Tom Steyer, Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, former vice president Joe Biden, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Pete Buttigieg and Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar AFP/Getty

Mr Bloomberg says that Mr Trump asked him, "But you really do love me, don't you?"

"And I said, 'Yes, Donald, I do love you, I just disagree with everything you've ever said'", Mr Bloomberg said.

"And we had a good laugh ... If you've sat and had dinner with Donald Trump, you'd probably walk away saying everything he just said is bulls*** ... But you have a good time. He is socially a nice person."

Facing pointed attacks from his Democratic rivals for his pay-to-play candidacy and past remarks ahead of his first debate appearance, Mr Bloomberg took aim at the field's top-polling contender, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, whom he accused of having a close affiliation to Mr Trump, dividing Democrats and relying on boorish campaign tactics – all of which Mr Bloomberg has been accused of in his multi-million dollar blitz for the presidency.

In response, Mr Sanders made his point by simply posting a photo of Mr Bloomberg and Mr Trump smiling together on a golf course.

Mr Bloomberg's campaign has tried to downplay his relationship with Mr Trump while both of them trade insults at one another on Twitter.

The former mayor addressed the president on Twitter saying: "We know many of the same people in NY. Behind your back they laugh at you & call you a carnival barking clown. They know you inherited a fortune & squandered it with stupid deals and incompetence."