Saudi prince picks fight with Donald Trump on Twitter

A Saudi prince has slammed Donald Trump after being dragged into the Republican presidential front-runner’s battle with Fox News, saying he “bailed out” the businessman twice in the past.

The war of words erupted on Twitter on Thursday after Trump posted a photoshopped image that showed Prince Al-Waleed Bin Talal bin Abdulaziz with Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly.

"@BradCross4: @Drudge_Report_ @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/Ur1qgG291Z"

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 28, 2016

Trump, who has targeted Muslims during his high-voltage campaign, described Al-Waleed as a “co-owner of Fox News”.

Al-Waleed hit back soon after on Twitter, saying in a tweet that he had bailed out the billionaire invested twice.

Trump:You base your statements on photoshopped pics?I bailed you out twice;a 3rd time,maybe? https://t.co/Raco0mvusp https://t.co/jStBl7Ghia

— ?????? ?? ???? (@Alwaleed_Talal) January 28, 2016

The prince, who is chairman of the board of Kingdom Holding Company, an investment holding company, included a link to a news report about him buying Trump’s yacht Trump Princess in 1991 after the billionaire was in debt for $900 million.

The news report also said Al-Waleed took a controlling stake in Trump’s Plaza Hotel in New York in 1995, when Trump was unable to make loan payments.

This is not the first time Trump and Al-Waleed have faced off on Twitter. After Trump called for a ban on the entry of all Muslims into the US last month, Al-Waleed said the Republican front-runner was a “disgrace” to his party and should withdraw from the presidential race.

.@realDonaldTrump You are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America. Withdraw from the U.S presidential race as you will never win.

— ?????? ?? ???? (@Alwaleed_Talal) December 11, 2015

Trump has been engaged in a running battle with Fox News for some months and recently pulled out of a debate on the channel that was co-moderated by Megyn Kelly.

First Published: Jan 29, 2016 16:25 IST