On Friday, a tweet from President Biden tweeted, saying: “You want to lower inflation? Let’s make sure the wealthiest corporations pay their fair share.”
Mr. Bezos replied that the two issues should be discussed separately. “Linking them together is just the wrong direction,” he tweeted.
US inflation remained close to a four-decade high in April, falling slightly to an 8.3% annualized rate in March after hitting its highest rate in four decades.
Mr Bezos, who stepped down as chief executive of Amazon in July and remains as executive chairman, retweeted Sunday that the $1.9 trillion US rescue plan that Mr Biden signed into law in March , contributed to high inflation. He also said that Sen. Joe Manchin (D., WVA)’s objection to Mr. Biden’s other spending plans kept the administration from adding to inflation.
“In fact, the administration tried very hard to inject even more stimulus into an already hot, inflationary economy and only Munchkin saved him from himself. Inflation is a regressive tax that hurts the least affluent the most. Wrong direction doesn’t help the country,” Mr Bezos tweeted.
Mr Biden initially proposed a child-care, health care and climate package, which was pegged at $3.5 trillion before the party passed the nearly $2 trillion package in the House. The package is in limbo in the Senate, where Mr Manchin’s support is necessary for Democrats to pass legislation through the Senate 50-50 on Republican opposition. The senator has raised concerns about another spending package that could lead to higher inflation.
Andrew Bates, a White House spokesman, said in a statement that “a huge leap is not needed to find out” why Mr Bezos would oppose Mr Biden’s economic proposals that would raise taxes on the wealthy.
“It’s also not surprising that this tweet comes after the president met with labor organizers, including Amazon employees.”
Mr Biden recently blocked a meeting with labor organizers at the White House, including Christian Smalls, a former Amazon employee who led the unionization efforts of Amazon workers on Staten Island. Mr Biden shook hands with Mr Small and joked: “You’re in trouble, man.”
Asked whether his policies accounted for inflation, Mr Biden said on Tuesday: “I think our policies help, not hurt.”
Mr Biden did not mention Amazon in his tweet, but he had previously told the company not to pay enough in corporate taxes.
Former President Donald Trump frequently called on CEOs of the country’s biggest companies, including Mr Bezos, during his tenure. He attacked Amazon in tweets over taxes, the use of the US Postal Service, and its impact on other retailers. He also told the Washington Post, which Mr Bezos personally owns, is the lobbying arm.
Amazon has been hit hard by inflation this year, including high labor costs, and the company is also grappling with supply-chain woes. In April, the company reported its first quarterly loss in seven years, a result that reflected macroeconomic trends but also surprised some investors who had come to see Amazon as a safe haven during the pandemic.
Chief Financial Officer Brian Olsavsky said in April that the company saw incremental costs of about $6 billion during the quarter related to productivity loss, inflation and situations where its warehouse capacity exceeded demand. He also said that Amazon is no longer constrained by labor or capacity issues as it was at times during the pandemic.
Mr Bezos has been posting more on Twitter this year than in previous months, and so far in May. He has also been more direct in voicing his opinion on a variety of issues, including Elon Musk’s take on Twitter, his views on inflation, and even the need for civility in discourse.
Mr. Bezos looks forward to celebrating Amazon’s successes or defending the company. The Wall Street Journal reported in March that Mr Bezos has been angered by criticism of Amazon in Washington and has prompted the company to be more vocal in its defense.
The Amazon founder’s social-media posts in the past have focused largely on his business interests, including periodic space launches from his rocket company, Blue Origin, philanthropists like the Bezos Earth Fund, and even celebrity celebrations. The efforts include fundraising.
But in recent posts, Mr. Bezos has given vague opinions on issues or has appeared eager to show more of his personality or perspective. Last month, when Musk joked on Twitter that the company should use its headquarters as a homeless shelter, Bezos said Amazon has successfully done so in Seattle.
“Great job and making it easy for employees who want to volunteer,” he tweeted.