At a dinner during the SkyBridge Alternatives (SALT) Conference last month, former Vice President Joe Biden reportedly ripped into financier Bill Ackman in a way that only Biden can. The scuffle between Biden and the man known for his losing bets on Herbalife stock apparently started after former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) asked Biden why he didn't run for president in 2016, Fox Business reported:
Biden explained that part of the decision stemmed from the death of his son Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in 2015. The room grew quiet as Biden became emotional, and said: "I'm sorry ... I've said enough."That's when Ackman blurted out, "Why? That's never stopped you before."The formal, and understated, dinner conversation suddenly turned tense, according three people who were present and confirmed both the substance and the wording of Biden's responses.Biden, these people say, turned to someone seated near him, and asked, "Who is this asshole?," a reference to Ackman.Then he turned directly to Ackman and stated: "Look, I don't know who you are, wiseass, but never disrespect the memory of my dead son!" these people say.Ackman attempted what was described as an apology, to which Biden said, "Just shut the hell up." [Fox Business]
Attendees — including talk show host Steve Harvey, 60 Minutes reporter Lara Logan, and former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou — were apparently "stunned" by the exchange. "Biden was in rare form," a person with "direct knowledge" of the incident told Fox Business.
Biden's spokeswoman declined to comment, though she did not deny the incident. Ackman's spokesman denied there was an argument between Biden and Ackman, though he did not dispute the words that were reportedly exchanged. Becca Stanek
The Week
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Update July 5: Four sources who were at the event disputed the widely reported version of the conversation between Biden and Ackman to New York. Rob Wolf, a Democratic Party fundraiser, told New York that the discussion was actually about President Trump, not Biden's late son Beau. Then, the sources said, reporter Lara Logan challenged Biden about decisions made by the Obama administration, and "Biden was irritated." Another source said that Biden responded but eventually declined to argue further, saying, "I'm not going to say anything more," prompting Ackman to quip, "Why start doing that now?" Ackman told New York he was trying to ease the tension from Biden's confrontation with Logan. Read more at New York, including SkyBridge's official statement on the matter.
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