Getty Images
It took a while to leak but it seems the most
interesting thing that happened in a star-studded dinner at the
SkyBridge Alternatives (SALT) Conference in May was a spat between
former Vice President Joe Biden and activist hedge fund manager Bill
Ackman. At the private event, former GOP presidential hopeful Jeb Bush
asked Biden why he didn’t run for president. Biden then went into an
explanation of his decision and how much it was affected by the death of
his son, Beau Biden.
The former vice president reportedly got emotional during the answer, according to Fox Business Network. “I’m sorry,” Biden said as the room grew quiet. “I’ve said enough.”
That’s when Ackman, one of the most controversial men in Wall Street,
decided it would be a good time to speak up: “Why? That’s never stopped
you before.” Biden then reportedly turned to someone who was next to
him and leveled what Ackman must surely consider to be one of the worst
insults: “Who is this asshole?”
Whether Biden got his answer or not is unclear, but
the former vice president quickly ripped into the founder of Pershing
Square Capital Management, who is best known for his insistence that
Herbalife is a pyramid scheme. “Look, I don't know who you are, wiseass,
but never disrespect the memory of my dead son,” Biden reportedly said.
Ackman then apparently tried to utter some sort of apology but Biden
wasn’t having it: “Just shut the hell up.”
A spokesman for Ackman disagreed with “the idea
that there was an argument or altercation between Joe Biden and Bill
Ackman” but he didn’t deny the exchange between the two had taken place.
At least some of the people who talked to Fox
Business Network about the exchange say it shows how 74-year-old Biden
still has the stamina and political instincts to run for the presidency.
0 comments:
Post a Comment