The Twitter war escalates between Biden White House and Jeff Bezos – Deadline
The White House responded for at least the second time in as many days today to tweets from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in a war of words over, well – the parties also quarreled about what the quarrel was about.
Bezos tweeted this morning that “the administration is trying its best to add another $ 3.5 trillion to federal spending. They failed, but if they had succeeded, inflation would have been even higher than it is today, and inflation today is at its highest in 40 years. “
White House Deputy Secretary of State Andrew Bates responded to a quote from Jeff Stein, White House Financial Reporter for the Bezos-owned Washington Post, where Stein directly opposed the newspaper’s owner.
“WH̵[ads1]7;s long-term spending plans were offset by large higher taxes on the rich and corporations, leading Larry Summers and other prominent economists to argue that their inflationary effects were likely to be negligible by reducing demand.”
WH’s long-term spending plans were offset by large higher taxes on the rich and corporations, which led Larry Summers and other prominent economists to argue that their inflationary impact was likely to be negligible by reducing demand https://t.co/S2LmCmA8IQ
– Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) May 16, 2022
Biden has often asked for higher taxes on the nation’s richest citizens and companies, lists where Bezos and Amazon appear prominently. The president also recently met with leaders who have organized an Amazon warehouse and spoken to union members last week, two decisions that the White House later suggested may have influenced Bezos’ opposition.
It all started on Friday afternoon when President Biden wrote on the social media platform: “Do you want to bring down inflation? Let us make sure that the richest companies pay their fair share. ”
Do you want to bring down inflation?
Let us make sure that the richest companies pay their fair share.
Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 13, 2022
That night, Bezos decided to share their reaction.
“The newly created disinformation board should review this tweet, or maybe they should form a new non-sequencer board instead,” he wrote in part. “Raising corporation tax is good to discuss. Taming inflation is crucial to discuss. Driving them together is just a mistake. “
The newly created disinformation board should review this tweet, or they may need to form a new Non Sequitur Board instead. Raising corporation tax is easy to discuss. Taming inflation is crucial to discuss. Running them together is just a mistake. https://t.co/ye4XiNNc2v
Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) May 14, 2022
The sometimes richest man in the world jumped back into the scrum again on Sunday morning, equalization the allegation of misconduct again and claimed that the White House had sought a stimulus package when the economy was already overheated before saying that “inflation is a regressive tax that hurts the most affluent the most.”
Three hours later on Sunday, the administration fired back for the first time. In what was probably a tweak at Bezos, Bates shared the official WH reaction with the paper Bezos owns:
“It does not take a big leap to find out why one of the richest individuals on earth opposes a middle-class economic agenda that reduces some of the biggest costs families face, fights long-term inflation and adds the historic deficit reduction the president achieves. by asking the richest taxpayers and companies to pay their fair share. “
The White House statement continued: “It’s also not surprising that this tweet comes after the president met with work organizers, including Amazon employees.”
Amazon paid no federal taxes in 2017 and 2018, a fact that Biden has often referred to when he has asked for higher taxes on the richest individuals and companies. In 2019, the then Democratic presidential candidate took a new Twitter leap with Amazon itself, saying, “No company that raises billions of dollars in profits should pay a lower tax rate than firefighters and teachers,” to which Amazon replied that they had paid 2, $ 6 billion more. in tax since 2016.
The recent melee on social media escalated this morning, with former Obama and Clinton administration economist Larry Summers tweeting in support of Biden, Bezos calling for “the squirrel!” meme from Pixar’s Up, reporter Stein weighed in with reporting that strengthened Biden’s case, and then Bates went back to Bezos again. You can follow below.
its best to add another $ 3.5 TRILLION to federal spending. They failed, but if they had succeeded, inflation would have been even higher than it is today, and inflation today is 40 years high.
Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) May 16, 2022
I think @JeffBezos is largely mistaken in his recent attack on @JoeBiden Admin. It’s perfectly reasonable to believe, as I do and @POTUS argues that we should raise taxes to reduce demand to curb inflation and that increases should be as progressive as possible.
– Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) May 16, 2022
The White House responds to Bezos’ criticism, pointing out that the very richest would pay more under the WH agenda
WH also points out Bezos’ criticism of Biden comes after the president met with Amazon’s union leadership
Statement from @ AndrewJBates46 https://t.co/DjOoV3oYbx pic.twitter.com/rkGSpBdPsz
– Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) May 16, 2022
Amazon, 10/2/21: “We support investment in #Infrastructure & #BuildBackBetter bills to reduce energy and transport emissions “
Axios, 5/5/22: “Biden meets with the leader of the Amazon Labor Union in the White House”
Larry Summers, today: “I think @JeffBezos is mostly wrong “https://t.co/yQNYbnGZfA pic.twitter.com/Z8FU1TIIXO
– Andrew Bates (@ AndrewJBates46) May 16, 2022
