Yesterday was not Nobel laureate Paul Krugman’s finest hour.
The famous economist and New York Times columnist tweeted to his 4.6 million followers – before deleting – that someone compromised his IP address and used it to download child porn.
Krugman pontificated in the deleted tweet that he could be a random target or a victim of right-wing trolls. Adding, “It’s an ugly world out there.”
FOXBusiness’ Suzanne O’Halloran reports:
He then followed up, in a tweet, saying that the “Times thinks it may have been a scam. Anyway, will have more security in future.”
Deleted original tweet. Times thinks it may have been a scam. Anyway, will have more security in future
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) January 9, 2020
Even so, Krugman’s allegations prompted a fierce backlash from social media, with many calling the economist’s bluff from the get-go.
On Twitter, the skeptics used the likes of Dr. Evil, played by Mike Myers, in the Austin Powers film. And Paul Giamatti, from Showtime’s Billions as well Will Ferrell’s Ron Burgandy character.
— Greg (@Money_Moose) January 8, 2020
— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) January 9, 2020
Krugman has targeted President Trump since his win against Democratic favorite Hillary Clinton. He famously wrote in a New York Times opinion piece that Trump’s win would likely cause a recession.