Online retail behemoth Amazon reached out to offer its distribution services almost immediately after Joe Biden was sworn in, an apparent snub to President Donald Trump.
Shortly after Biden was inaugurated Wednesday, Amazon’s chief executive of worldwide consumer business offered to “leverage” its operations to aid in the President’s efforts to scale up distribution of COVID vaccines nationwide.
Amazon’s David Clark dispatched a letter to Mr. Biden congratulating the President on his ascendance to office. In that letter Clark declared, “As you begin your work leading the country out of the COVID-19 crisis, Amazon stands ready to assist you in reaching your goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of your administration.”
“We are prepared to leverage our operations, information technology, and communications capabilities and expertise to assist in your administration’s vaccination efforts,” Clark said, also making sure that Mr. Biden understood that Amazon is second largest employer in the United States.
“Our scale allows us to make a meaningful impact immediately in the fight against COVID-19, and we stand ready to assist you in this effort,” he added.
Letter to @POTUS: “Amazon stands ready to assist you in reaching your goal of vaccinating 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of your administration.” pic.twitter.com/bH6y6IZZEW
— Amazon News (@amazonnews) January 20, 2021
When asked by a mainstream media reporter whether the same offer was made to President Trump while he was in office, a spokesperson for Amazon replied, that the company “was in touch with” the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Department of Health & Human Services last December.
+ For those asking if similar offer was extended to President Trump… I asked. Amazon rep said company was in touch with CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and Dept. of Health and Human Services last month. But no mention of a direct letter to President Trump.
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) January 20, 2021
When pressed it was revealed Amazon executives, including Mr. Clark, did not directly contact President Trump or anyone in his immediate circle.
