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Trump retaliates against ‘dopey’ Saudi prince

by Bradford Richardson - 12/12/15 9:58 AM ET

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is returning fire against the Saudi prince who told him to drop out of the White House race.

Trump called billionaire Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal “dopey” and accused him of trying to buy U.S. politicians with “daddy’s money” in a tweet late Friday.

Dopey Prince @Alwaleed_Talal wants to control our U.S. politicians with daddy’s money. Can’t do it when I get elected. #Trump2016

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 12, 2015

{mosads}Earlier Friday, Bin Talal called Trump a “disgrace” and told him to end his White House bid.

“[Donald Trump], you are a disgrace not only to the GOP but to all America,” the Saudi billionaire tweeted. “Withdraw from the U.S. presidential race as you will never win.”

Bin Talal’s comments were seemingly a response to Trump’s proposal to ban Muslim immigration into the U.S. in the wake of terrorist attacks.

The Saudi royal is CEO of Kingdom Holding Company, which has stakes in groups like Citigroup and Twitter, and has an estimated net worth of $24.8 billion, according to Forbes.

He told The Economist in 1999 that he started his business with a $30,000 loan from his father and by mortgaging a house his father had given him for $400,000.

Trump, the son of a wealthy real estate developer, has said he received a “small” $1 million loan from his father after he graduated from college in 1968. Forbes estimates his net worth at $4.5 billion.

Tags Alwaleed Bin Talal Donald Trump