Right-wing chronic grump Ben Shapiro has no sympathy for student loan debtors, so how’s that working out for him in light of his forgiven federal loan?
Yes, that’s what’s going on here. If we back up a minute, Shapiro bit himself in the butt, too, when he started complaining about reports (which turned out to be accurate) about President Biden cancelling $10,000 in debt for most student loan borrowers (who fall under a certain income threshold). Biden made provisions for more forgiveness for some borrowers, and that includes Pell Grant recipients, and Shapiro made it known in advance that he’s not here for this plan. He believes that debtors (even those who fell into the predatory loan trap, as with student loan debtors who find that they are making on-time payments for a decade and still owe much more than they initially borrowed) should pay up, no matter what.
“I have a controversial idea about paying off student loan debt,” the Daily Wire creator tweeted. “[D]on’t take out debt you will likely be unable to pay off, and don’t ask others to pay off your debts.”
I have a controversial idea about paying off student loan debt: don’t take out debt you will likely be unable to pay off, and don’t ask others to pay off your debts.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 23, 2022
This seemed par for the course, and Shapiro went on his merry little way, but then someone pointed out that Shapiro also has some federal loan forgiveness in his pocket. It’s quite recent, actually, which is stunning for someone who seems to be doing pretty well for himself financially.
This you? pic.twitter.com/PAIDoEhKuu
— Summer Retnap (@retnap) August 23, 2022
I have a controversial idea about paying off student loan debt: don’t take out debt you will likely be unable to pay off, and don’t ask others to pay off your debts.
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 23, 2022
Shapiro’s Daily Wire received quite a bit of PPP relief from the federal government, and he had over $20,000 of that instantly forgiven. That’s more than most student loan debtors will receive, so people had to drag him for it. Oh, and he should “maybe cut back on the Starbucks?” The responses rolled onto social media.
So you’re a millionaire who couldn’t afford to payback his loans… do we need to take a look at your budget and maybe cut back on the Starbucks? pic.twitter.com/wbOufzkYaD
— Show Me Your Mask (@showmeyourmask) August 24, 2022
BINGO @benshapiro and MANY TN GOP legislators like @JasonZacharyTN & @JeremyFaison4TN are shaming people for supporting student loan forgiveness… yet got HUGE PPP loans forgiven https://t.co/Ca72mWvnG8
— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) August 24, 2022
But Ben you had your loan forgiven. Why didn’t you pay that off yourself? pic.twitter.com/LkEgFI73UF
— jane (@JanWilkens7) August 24, 2022
My business didn’t get a PPP loan bail out during the pandemic, but you did Bad Faith Ben pic.twitter.com/E5YX7Fjd4A
— The Seer (@Apostate1123) August 23, 2022
Ben Shapiro is rich and got his ppp loan forgiven. He also supported Trump tax cuts for rich people. And he’s over here complaining about limited student loan relief for people making less then 125k. https://t.co/2HaCaMr7Jj
— Elvio De la Cruz (@LVO_DLC) August 24, 2022
Didn’t you and your company just got a federal loan that was forgiven? pic.twitter.com/y1LOiQHDqt
— E.L.L.A (@ELLA25322670) August 24, 2022
Oh look there’s @benshapiro loan forgiveness. Wait I though people should pay their own damn loans Ben? https://t.co/axmfmOJ8j6
— The Radical Proletariat (@TheRadicalProle) August 24, 2022
Ben Shapiro never had to worry about student loans, because his rich parents paid for him to go to UCLA (where he majored in political science of all things) and Harvard Law. And what a waste of money, because he obviously didn’t learn a damn thing. pic.twitter.com/IjHIK43vjN
— Scary Larry (@aintscarylarry) August 23, 2022
And he’s got no one to think for this backlash but himself.