Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos Offers To Shoot Donald Trump into Space
The phrase “it’s getting weird” doesn’t do the present election cycle justice any longer. Irrespective of one’s political leanings, it is hard to argue that Donald Trump’s presence in the race for the 2016 Republican nomination has been anything short of surreal. With over-the-top rhetoric and one-liners a-plenty, the GOP front-runner has proven quick on the draw and slow to dial it down ever since he launched his bid for the country’s highest office in June. While some who run afoul of The Donald turn the other cheek, every so often the real estate mogul turned political hopeful finds a foil who fires back. Such was the case when Trump mixed it up with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos via Twitter.
The online clash of titans began with a small volley of tweets by Donald Trump on Monday morning. As noted by CNBC, Trump called out Bezos – tagging him directly by including the CEO’s Twitter handle – accusing him of running a scam in his business operations of Amazon.com and The Washington Post. Jeff Bezos purchased the aforementioned newspaper in 2013.
The @washingtonpost, which loses a fortune, is owned by @JeffBezos for purposes of keeping taxes down at his no profit company, @amazon.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
The @washingtonpost loses money (a deduction) and gives owner @JeffBezos power to screw public on low taxation of @Amazon! Big tax shelter
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
If @amazon ever had to pay fair taxes, its stock would crash and it would crumble like a paper bag. The @washingtonpost scam is saving it!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
CNBC’s Sarah Witten speculated that Donald Trump’s ire came about as the result of an article published by Washington Post writer Glenn Kessler, critiquing the candidate’s claims that he can predict terrorism. Concluding his essay, Kessler awarded Trump some dubious kudos for his campaign trail assertions.
“Trump has repeatedly and falsely claimed that he predicted in his 2000 book that bin Laden was going to attack the United States and that America needed to “take him out.” Moreover, his claims of predicting terrorism in the United States are similarly overblown. He earns Four Pinocchios.”
Much later in the day – five hours later, actually – Trump delivered a parting shot at Bezos and company, suggesting that The Washington Post was aligned with “failing candidates.” Almost channeling Charlie Sheen, Trump also touted his skills at “winning.”
.@washingtonpost is going out of its way to tell failing candidates how to beat Donald Trump.The Post doesn’t get that I’m good at winning!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7, 2015
Jeff Bezos finally hit back late in the day with a zinger of his own.
Finally trashed by @realDonaldTrump. Will still reserve him a seat on the Blue Origin rocket. #sendDonaldtospace https://t.co/9OypFoxZk3
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) December 7, 2015
“Blue Origin” is the name of a private space company owned by Jeff Bezos. As reported by Inquisitr, Blue Origin successfully launched and returned a reusable rocket in late November. Although the company’s ultimate goal is to become a key player in the space tourism industry, Blue Origin still has a healthy amount of research and development ahead before they reach that goal. Then again, the term “space tourism” implies that passengers on the company’s private rocket would be afforded a return trip to planet Earth and it is not really clear from the tone of Bezos’ tweet – which included the hash tag #sendDonaldtospace – whether or not he would actually let Trump come home after a foray into the great wide open.
While Donald Trump is a prolific Twitterer, Jeff Bezos is not as prolific on social media. In fact, Washington Post writer Chris Cillizza noted that Bezos’ rejoinder to Trump was only the fourth time he has ever posted a tweet.
Late on Monday, Donald Trump shifted his attention back to one of his more customary campaign trail targets, as he advocated a ban on Muslims entering the United States. While the GOP front-runner continues to garner criticism for his comments and positions on a number of issues, Trump still enjoys a significant lead on the rest of the Republican field. New figures suggest Donald Trump leads GOP rival Ted Cruz by 13 points in a poll of prospective Iowa voters.
[Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
