‘Pharma Bro’ Shkreli endorses Trump, even though he already backed Sanders
Notorious pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli has taken to Twitter to endorse Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump – seven months after he already backed Democrat Bernie Sanders.
Shkreli gained notoriety last year when his company, Turing Pharmaceuticals, hiked the price of the AIDS drug Daraprim by 5,500 percent (from $13.50 to $750 per pill) after buying the rights to the drug.
“America’s most hated man” tweeted on Thursday night to say that he was backing The Donald over presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, although he did add that Trump “should find a VP candidate who is seasoned in politics, an ugly game.”
I haven't been called by the Trump camp. I support him vs. Hillary. He should find a VP candidate who is seasoned in politics, an ugly game.
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) May 27, 2016
When asked if he would consider being Trump’s second in command, Shkreli said he would have to say no, as his “gifts to the world belong in private service, not public.”
@BuzzFeedAndrew no, i love my country too much. my gifts to the world belong in private service, not public.
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) May 27, 2016
Shkreli showed he could flip-flop just like the politicians. In October 2015, he endorsed Clinton’s rival Bernie Sanders, even admitting at the time that he had donated to the Sanders campaign.
Damn @BernieSanders is my boy with that Kosovo reference. Gets my full endorsement. I did donate to him...
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) October 14, 2015
Following his tweet on Thursday though, the former Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO received plenty of backlash over his decision to back Trump.
@MartinShkreli From a rare disease patient, go to jail & get fucked. Being sick & dealing w/someone like YOU is the ugly game. @Bruiser4Eq
— CDACPA (@CDACPAinMS) May 27, 2016
@MartinShkreli Cool Marty, even @realDonaldTrump doesn't want to be associated with you. You are really at the bottom of the human barrel
— Alexander Grimsky (@AGrimsky) May 27, 2016
@MartinShkreli you would be a perfect VP choice for Trump-- both douchebags
— Gator Beau (@BeauLaVergne) May 27, 2016
He even received a tweet from what seemed to be the official Donald Trump Twitter account, thanking Shkreli for his support, to which the 33-year old replied “thank you Donald.”
thank you Donald! https://t.co/6yLUSM7SLa
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) May 27, 2016
However, the account in question was a parody impostor – which Shkreli later said he was aware of.
I didn't think it was possible that someone believed I thought a Trump parody account was real. https://t.co/IvmRXdmiDw
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) May 27, 2016
Shkreli also attacked all those slating him for his Trump tweets, saying that “all you people who don't like trump are jealous, stupid and poor!”
all you people who don't like trump are jealous, stupid and poor! don't make me laugh! and if you are employed by media you are worthless.
— Martin Shkreli (@MartinShkreli) May 27, 2016
He also added that “if you are employed by media you are worthless.”