The White House has lashed out at Amazon over reports that the company might start displaying tariff charges on products sold through its platform. Officials view this as a politically charged move aimed at undermining Trump’s trade policies.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt didn’t mince words, calling Amazon’s proposal a “hostile act.” She revealed that she had spoken with Trump before making the statement, emphasizing the administration’s disapproval. The criticism didn’t stop there—Leavitt also referenced a 2021 report linking Amazon to Chinese propaganda efforts.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, has had a complicated history with Trump. Despite donating to his inauguration, Bezos’ Washington Post refused to endorse any candidate in the upcoming election, a decision that sparked debate.
Trump’s trade policies have relied heavily on tariffs, with some rates initially set high before being lowered. China, however, retaliated with even steeper tariffs, pushing costs onto businesses and consumers. Amazon’s plan to show these fees would have made the financial impact clear to shoppers—something the White House strongly opposed.
Amazon later stated that the feature was never officially considered and would not be implemented. Trump, in response, praised Bezos for backing down, calling him a “good person” for resolving the issue quickly.
