Martin Shkreli Called ‘Spoiled Brat’ By Donald Trump, Says He Should Be Ashamed Of Himself

Martin Shkreli has been everyone’s favorite person to hate lately. Shortly after his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, raised the price of a potential life-saving drug from $13.50 to $750 a pill, he has been the subject of public and political outrage.

Now he has a new opponent, one who is known for telling it like it is.

In a report by Tech Times, business mogul and presidential candidate Donald Trump called Shkreli a “spoiled brat” during a September 23 press conference in South Carolina. He continued by saying the 32-year-old hedge fund manager is a zero and should be ashamed of himself, adding that Shkreli’s actions were disgraceful and disgusting.

Trump also voiced his dislike for the tactics hedge fund managers in general use to avoid paying taxes and hinted at what he would do should he became president.

“And he’s a hedge-fund guy, who, as you know — the only one that I’m raising taxes on. They are going to be paying up.”

Trump’s reaction may have been prompted when Fox News reporter Eric Bolling seemed to have defended Shkreli on an episode of The Five, implying he is just a sharp businessman.

Per a recent article by the Inquisitr, this may be one of several reasons Trump will no longer appear on Fox.

As reported by the Washington Post, in response to the controversy surrounding the unjustified price increase, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association recently distanced themselves from Shkreli.

.@TuringPharma does not represent the values of @PhRMA member companies.

— PhRMA (@PhRMA) September 22, 2015

Additionally, BIO, the biotech industry association, cut their ties with him as well. A spokesperson explained their reason for kicking Turing out of the organization.

“The company and its leadership do not reflect the commitment to innovation and values that are at the core of BIO’s reputation and mission. For that reason, BIO determined, after a review of Turing’s membership status, that the company did not meet our eligibility criteria, and we took action to rescind its membership and return its membership dues.”

Martin Shkreli is the founder and current CEO of Turing Pharmaceuticals. In August, the company acquired the rights to the drug Daraprim, which is used to treat parasitic infections in patients with immune issues like HIV/AIDS as well as cancer. Soon after, the company raised the price of the drug by about 5,000 percent and angered millions of people by doing so.

According to Shkreli, the reason for the decision was so the company could turn a profit and re-invest in additional drug research. Many aren’t buying the explanation, though, and think the decision was one based on greed and not for the best interests of humanity.

Even though there is now a public firestorm coming down on Shkreli (mainly because of his brash attitude), Turing isn’t the only pharmaceutical company to make this claim. They say the research and development of a new drug come at a high cost to companies, and this justifies the price of current drugs on the market.

In the fray, another ally has been lost too. Martin Shkreli is a supportive investor in Collect Records. When they learned of the substantial Daraprim price hike, they immediately severed ties with the Turing CEO.

“Never in a million years did any of us expect to wake up to the news of the scandal that he is now involved in. It blindsided and upset us on every level. As such, we know it is impossible for us to continue having any ties with him,” said Geoff Rickly, the owner of Collect Records, in a recent statement.

At first, Shkreli seemed to like the negative attention. He commented on social media outlets and appeared on TV defending his position, even rolling his eyes during one interview when asked how his actions affected patients. Of course, his patronizing insolence backfired, and he has since been condemned as “human garbage” and “a monster.”

In an effort to discourage further publicity damage, Shkreli recently announced a price reduction of the drug but has yet to state what the new cost will be. However, this afterthought attempt may be too late to save him and his company from more public backlash.

[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]