Joe Biden Faces Off With Jewish Hedge Fund Billionaire

Image by Union for Reform Judaism

By Daniel J. Solomon June 27, 2017

A Jewish hedge fund billionaire saw Joe Biden’s angry side at a dinner in May, when the former vice president reportedly quipped about punching him in the face following a testy exchange between the two.

Ackman and Biden were both present at an exclusive event in Sin City, where Biden was speaking about current events. Asked about President Trump, Biden reportedly said, “I am going to have to be careful what I say.” Ackman replied: “After all these years, why start now?”

That reportedly led Biden to call Ackman a “wiseass” and say “I’d like to knock this guy on his ass.” Ackman, the head of Pershing Square Capital Management, has denied the reports, including some unconfirmed claims that the to-do started with a reference to Biden’s late son, Beau.

“I have enormous respect for Vice President Biden. It is unfortunate that a totally false press report would suggest otherwise,” he told the New York Post.

Contact Daniel J. Solomon at solomon@forward.com or on Twitter @DanielJSolomon

Daniel J. Solomon is the former Assistant to the Editor/News Writer at the Forward. Originally from Queens, he attended Harvard as an undergraduate, where he wrote his senior thesis on French-Jewish intellectual history. He is excited to have returned to New York after his time in Massachusetts. Daniel’s passions include folk music, cycling, and pointed argument.

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