Amazon’s Jeff Bezos offers to shoot Trump into space as insults fly
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump took to the Twittersphere to insult the owner of the Washington Post after the paper ran an article on how to beat The Donald.
The Washington Post suggested that with presidential candidate Jeb Bush polling at 3 percent, his Right to Rise super PAC should use what’s left of its funds to run negative campaign ads about Trump in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
That started the billionaire vs. billionaire smackdown on Twitter, with Trump taking the first shot: He said Post owner – and Amazon CEO – Jeff Bezos was using The Washington Post newspaper as a tax write off.
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
This prompted a flurry of retweets, likes and comments comparing each billionaire’s earnings.
@realDonaldTrump@washingtonpost@JeffBezos@amazon u mad? pic.twitter.com/sVl0PqByKZ
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) December 7, 2015
There were spoofs of Trump’s campaign slogan:
@realDonaldTrump Perhaps @JeffBezos should have @washingtonpost declare bankruptcy. You know, to make it great again! #Trump2016
— JamesFromTheInternet (@JamesFTInternet) December 7, 2015
And those pointing out what Trump missed:
@realDonaldTrump@washingtonpost@JeffBezos@amazon How many taxes would a 'no profit' company owe?
— Alex Coleman (@ShakingStick) December 7, 2015
Trump’s estimated worth is at $4 billion, which trails behind Amazon’s Bezos, who is worth an estimated $59.4 billion and is number five on the Forbes List of Billionaires. But that didn’t stop The Donald from reminding the Washington Post that he is good 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
Or that Amazon’s share price could fall:
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
Even the fake Donald Trump Twitter account had to weigh in this time:
@realDonaldTrump@washingtonpost@JeffBezos@Amazon Never fear! When elected, I'll raise taxes on everyone but me and my friends.
— Fake Donald Trump (@TheFakeTrump) December 8, 2015
Eight hours later, Bezos, who has tweeted just four things since he joined Twitter in 2008, returned the fire by offering to shoot Trump into space on one the rockets designed by his Blue Origin aerospace company.
Finally trashed by @realDonaldTrump. Will still reserve him a seat on the Blue Origin rocket. #sendDonaldtospacehttps://t.co/9OypFoxZk3
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) December 7, 2015
The hashtag #sendDonaldtospace prompted an outpouring of support, even suggesting new locations for campaign slogans:
@JeffBezos@realDonaldTrump@BadAstronomer Could you send him on a "test" flight? ...It would be a success either way :P
— Alipasha Sadri (@alipasha_s) December 8, 2015
@JeffBezos@realDonaldTrump Make Jupiter great again!
— Christina Pazzanese (@cpazzanese) December 8, 2015
The only hiccup in the plan? Bezos’ Blue Origin has designed a rocket that not only brings its passengers back to Earth, but the rocket, too.
For some that presented a problem with Bezos’ Trump space campaign.
Um... @JeffBezos, doesn't that rocket come back, though? https://t.co/y6wKxg4Yr3
— Matthew Hipple (@AmericaHipple) December 8, 2015
@JeffBezos Make it a one-way trip, please.
— Deirdré Straughan (@DeirdreS) December 7, 2015