Bill Ackman Profile picture
Nov 11, 2021 9 tweets 2 min read Read on X
Last night, Neri and I watched several hours of .#Kylerittenhouse direct testimony and cross examination. We came away believing that #Kyle is telling the truth and that he acted in self defense. We found him to be a civic-minded patriot with a history of
helping his community as an EMT and fireman in training, in his removing hate graffiti earlier that day from a local school, and ultimately in volunteering to protect a business during the night of August 25th in Kenosha.
Our first hand impressions of Kyle were materially different from those we had previously formed based on media reports and opinion pieces that we had consumed. I have always been frustrated to read an inaccurate press report about a subject I know well, yet somehow I continue to
believe other articles in the same newspaper about subjects I know less well. Media and political bias are dividing our country and destroying lives. While we have not heard the entire trial, based on our assessment of Kyle on the stand, we believe that he will be found innocent
by the jury. Often times, communities react negatively and even violently after a jury verdict where they are surprised by the outcome based on what they have previously read in the newspaper, seen on TV or more likely been served on social media. I encourage you
to watch the trial, or at a minimum his testimony and cross examination, before you form a view of his guilt or innocence. With respect to my own political bias, I am not a gun owner, nor a member of the NRA. On balance, I support stronger gun regulations and
removing loopholes in the sale of guns. Unfortunately it seems that society’s view of #kyle ‘s innocence depends more on one’s views about gun control rather than on what actually took place last August.
Kyle Rittenhouse’s life is at risk. Justice demands a fair trial. Society would benefit greatly if politics did not enter the court room and convict innocent people.
Just got a call from the media asking if my Twitter account was hacked. That is, the reporter couldn’t conceive of the idea that I could believe that Kyle is innocent because I am not a right winger. Crazy.

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More from @BillAckman

Apr 16, 2023
I like and respect @VivekGRamaswamy but when I suggested that he could be our next president, I did not understand all of his policy positions or what they would become. I think our country needs someone closer to the center to bring us together. Vivek is not that candidate. twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
To be clear, I prefer @VivekGRamaswamy to @realDonaldTrump @GovRonDeSantis and @POTUS and would vote for him if those were the choices. I just think the country would benefit by a candidate whose views and policies were closer to the center where I believe the majority is.
Perhaps with our primary system, we have no hope for a more centrist candidate to make it through to a general election. If that is indeed the case then @VivekGRamaswamy is our best bet for now. Here’s hoping that if he wins, he works hard to bring us together.
Read 5 tweets
Mar 10, 2023
The failure of @SVB_Financial could destroy an important long-term driver of the economy as VC-backed companies rely on SVB for loans and holding their operating cash. If private capital can’t provide a solution, a highly dilutive gov’t preferred bailout should be considered.
After what the Feds did to @jpmorgan after it bailed out Bear Stearns, I don’t see another bank stepping in to help @SVB_Financial.
The gov’t could also guarantee deposits in exchange for a dilutive warrant issuance and other covenants and protections. If @SVB_Financial is indeed solvent, this would buy time to enable SVB to restore the franchise and raise new private capital.
Read 5 tweets
Feb 15, 2023
I am going to make a bold and early call. @VivekGRamaswamy will run for POTUS and win. I think the country is ready for his message. He is young, smart, talented and will attract the center to the right to win. He speaks hard truths which many believe but fear to say.
He is a very talented and successful entrepreneur who understands business, economics, healthcare, politics, history and geopolitics. You won’t likely agree with all of his views, but you will respect his candor, acumen, discipline and energy. One to watch.
And let’s remember that the improbable candidate often wins. Think Clinton, Obama, and Trump. Most people laughed at the thought of any of the previous up until months before the election.
Read 4 tweets
Jan 27, 2023
In late 2012, we shorted @Herbalife and delivered our initial 342-page deck centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/upl… . In sum, we said that HLF was a pyramid scheme that was causing enormous economic harm. HLF has declined by 24% since then. The S&P has ~tripled over the same period.
We made numerous other presentations about @herbalife identifying new issues and addressing false and misleading statements that HLF made in response to our presentations. The @FTC launched an investigation of HLF in March 2014. In July 2016, HLF settled with the FTC for $200m.
In March 2014, we made a presentation about HLF China. In sum, we said that HLF was violating China anti-pyramiding law and had inaccurate SEC filings. HLF said: "The presentation reflects Mr. Ackman’s continued failure to fundamentally understand Herbalife’s business model."
Read 16 tweets
Jan 13, 2023
Many have expressed surprise about my interest in the FTX situation and my openness to the possibility that @SBF_FTX may be telling the truth as I have no economic interest or relationship with any of the parties. Perhaps some background on my life experiences will help explain.
20 years ago on 12/9/02, I released a white paper entitled ‘Is MBIA Triple-A’ where in 55-pages I questioned the AAA credit ratings of the largest bond insurer. I disclosed on page one that my firm, Gotham Partners, held a short position in the company.
A few weeks later, then-NYAG Eliot Spitzer launched an investigation accusing me of market manipulation. As a high profile hedge fund manager and with this being Spitzer’s second major initiative after his successful Wall Street analyst investigation, it was front page news.
Read 23 tweets
Jan 2, 2023
My issues with KO/PEP are more with their advertising, health disclosures (not), and the buying off of critics. The harm is born by less health-aware consumers who are disproportionately kids or from low income groups. When was the last time you saw an obese person in a Coke ad?
And then think about all of the negative externalities. What have Coke/Pepsi contributed to our health care costs? And think about all of the plastic bottles in the ocean. Why haven’t KO/PEP invested some of their massive profits in developing a truly biodegradable bottle?
In reality, neither company is as profitable as their public filings suggest because the real costs, if they were properly burdened with their negative externalities, are much, much higher than reported. The problem is that society, rather than Coke and Pepsi, bears these costs.
Read 4 tweets

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