The White House on Monday accused Jeff Bezos of opposing "an economic agenda for the middle class" after the Amazon founder hit out at U.S. president Joe Biden for linking inflation with corporate taxes.
"It doesn't require a huge leap to figure out why one of the wealthiest individuals on Earth opposes an economic agenda for the middle class that cuts some of the biggest costs families face, fights inflation for the long haul, and adds to the holistic deficit reduction the President is achieving by asking the riches taxpayers and corporations to pay their fair share," said Andrew Bates, deputy press secretary.
"It's also unsurprising that this tweet comes after the president met with labor organisers, including Amazon employees," he added.
Reacting to the White House statement, Bezos tweeted: "They understandably want to muddy the topic. They know inflation hurts the neediest the most. But unions aren't causing inflation and neither are wealthy people."
"Remember the administration tried their 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 a 40-year high," Bezos said.
The world's second richest man has criticised Biden in several posts on Twitter after the US president recently encouraged increasing taxes on wealthy corporations as a means to fight soaring inflation.
On May 14, when Biden tweeted, "You want to bring down inflation? Let's make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share." Bezos was quick to respond saying, "The newly created Disinformation Board should review this tweet, or maybe they need to form a new Non Sequitur Board instead. Raising corp taxes is fine to discuss. Taming inflation is critical to discuss. Mushing them together is just misdirection."
Biden had earlier claimed that while the U.S. deficit increased every single year under his predecessor, his government is on track to cut the deficit by $1.5 trillion – the biggest one-year decline ever.
Reacting to Biden's statement, Bezos pointed out that the administration tried hard to inject even more stimulus into an already over-heated, inflationary economy. "Only Manchin saved them from themselves. Inflation is a regressive tax that most hurts the least affluent. Misdirection doesn’t help the country," he added.