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 sides also sparred over the subject of the argument. .
Bezos tweeted this morning that “the administration has done its best to add another $3.5 trillion to federal spending. They failed, but if they had succeeded, inflation would be even higher than it is today, and inflation today is at its highest level in 40 years.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates responded by quoting on Twitter an assessment by Jeff Stein, White House economics reporter for the Bezos-owned Washington Post, in which Stein directly countered the owner of his log.
“WH’s long-term spending plans were offset by higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, leading Larry Summers and other leading economists to argue that their inflationary impact would likely be negligible in reducing Requirement.”
The WH’s long-term spending plans were offset by higher taxes on the wealthy and corporations, leading Larry Summers and other leading economists to argue that their inflationary impact would likely be negligible in reducing the request https://t.co/S2LmCmA8IQ
—Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) May 16, 2022
Biden has often called for higher taxes for the nation’s wealthiest citizens and businesses, lists that Bezos and Amazon feature prominently on. The president also recently met with executives who unionized an Amazon warehouse and spoke to union members last week, two decisions the White House said may have swayed Bezos’ opposition.
It all started on Friday afternoon when President Biden wrote on the social media platform: “Want to lower inflation? Let’s make sure the wealthiest companies pay their fair share.
Want to lower inflation?
Let’s make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share.
—Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 13, 2022
That evening, Bezos decided to share his reaction.
“The newly created misinformation council should review this tweet, or perhaps they should form a new, non-sequential council instead,” he wrote in part. “Increasing corporate taxes is a good thing to discuss. It is essential to discuss the control of inflation. Mixing them together is just a misdirection.
The newly created disinformation committee should look into this tweet, or perhaps they should form a new, non-sequential committee instead. Raising corporate taxes is a good thing to discuss. It is essential to discuss the control of inflation. Mixing them together is just a misdirection. https://t.co/ye4XiNNc2v
—Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) May 14, 2022
The sometimes richest man in the world jumped into the fray again on Sunday morning, Upgrade again the allegation of misdirection and claiming that the White House had asked for a stimulus package when the economy was already overheating before saying that “inflation is a regressive tax that hurts the less well off the most”.
Three hours later on Sunday, the administration retaliated for the first time. In what was surely an adjustment at Bezos, Bates shared the official WH reaction with the paper that Bezos has:
“You don’t have to take a big leap to understand why one of the wealthiest people on the planet opposes a middle-class economic program that cuts some of the biggest costs families face. , fights long-term inflation and adds to the historic deficit reduction the president is achieving by asking the wealthiest taxpayers and corporations to pay their fair share.
The White House statement continued, “It also comes as no surprise that this tweet comes after the President met with labor organizers, including Amazon employees.”
Amazon paid no federal taxes in 2017 and 2018, a fact Biden frequently referenced when he called for higher taxes for the wealthiest individuals and businesses. In 2019, the then-Democratic presidential candidate had another Twitter spat with Amazon himself saying that “no company making billions of dollars in profits should pay a lower tax rate. to that of firefighters and teachers,” to which Amazon replied that it had paid $2.6 billion. taxes since 2016.
The most recent social media fray escalated this morning, with former Obama and Clinton administration economist Larry Summers tweeting in favor of Biden, Bezos invoking the “Squirrel!” pixar meme At the top, reporter Stein weighing in with stories that bolstered Biden’s case, and then Bates returning to Bezos yet again. You can follow below.
their best to add another $3.5 BILLION to federal spending. They failed, but if they had succeeded, inflation would be even higher than it is today, and inflation today is at its highest level in 40 years.
—Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) May 16, 2022
I think @Jeff Bezos was especially wrong in his recent attack on the @JoeBiden Admin. It is perfectly reasonable to believe, as I do and @POTUS argues that we should raise taxes to reduce demand in order to contain inflation and that the increases should be as gradual as possible.
—Lawrence H. Summers (@LHSummers) May 16, 2022
White House responds to Bezos criticism, stresses wealthier people would pay more under WH agenda
WH also points out that Bezos’ criticism of Biden comes after the president met with Amazon union leadership
Declaration of @AndrewJBates46 https://t.co/DjOoV3oYbx pic.twitter.com/rkGSpBdPsz
—Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) May 16, 2022
Amazon, 02/10/21: “We support investments in the #Infrastructure & #BuildBackBetter bills to reduce emissions in energy and transport”
Axios, 05/05/22: “Biden meets with Amazon union chief at White House”
Larry Summers, today: “I think @Jeff Bezos is generally wrong” https://t.co/yQNYbnGZfA pic.twitter.com/Z8FU1TIIXO
— Andrew Bates (@AndrewJBates46) May 16, 2022
#Twitter #war #escalates #Biden #White #House #Jeff #Bezos