“I forgot you were still alive”
Elon Musk is back on Twitter, except this time the target of his sarcastic comments and not-so-subtle slurs isn’t his fellow billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Bloomberg | Getty Images
In fact, the CEO of Tesla used the social media platform to shoot a new (seemingly random) public enemy – Senator and former presidential candidate Bernie Sanders.
The Twitter riff began from a Tweet Sanders posted on Saturday.
“We must demand that the extremely rich pay their fair share,†he said. “Period.”
We must demand that the extremely rich pay their fair share. Period.
– Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) November 13, 2021
The Tweet came days after Musk sold about $ 6.9 billion of his own Tesla shares (about 4% of the shares he owns directly) after polling his Twitter followers last week to see if he whether or not to sell 10% of its shares in the company.
Related: Elon Musk Sinks Tesla Shares With Controversial Twitter Poll
58% of those who voted said yes.
By only owning Tesla stock and not taking an annual cash salary or bonus, Musk doesn’t have to pay personal taxes on his shares unless he sells them.
It’s clear that Sanders’ quip touched Musk.
“I always forget you’re still alive,” Musk wrote in response to the senator in one of two tweets. “Do you want me to sell more stocks, Bernie?” Just say the word … “
Do you want me to sell more stocks, Bernie? Just say the word …
– Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2021
Sanders, who is the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, proposed several policies that would tax the richest in the country, including the top 0.1%, which would include Musk, Bezos and other billionaires.
Related: Senate Democrats unveil plan to hit 700 billionaires with massive tax hikes
Musk has long opposed these proposals, including the billionaire income tax that was proposed by Democratic Senator Ron Wyden (Oregon) in an attempt to tax American billionaires on their investments.
Musk continued to troll Twitter, responding to some of his followers’ comments on the Interaction and on Sanders.
“The federal budget deficit is $ 2.7 trillion,” a user wrote tagging Musk. “The ‘pay your fair share’ thing is kind of a distraction because you can’t find $ 2.7 trillion in income just by taxing billionaires.”
“Exactly,” replied the CEO of Tesla.
He also has called Sanders a “taker, not a maker” and responded with a thumbs-up emoji to a follower who suggested that Sanders send a “detailed list” to Musk and other Americans explaining where the proposed allocated tax money would go.
Musk’s estimated net worth was $ 271.5 billion as of Monday morning.
Related: Elon Musk Sells $ 5 Billion In Tesla Stock