Donald Trump addressed the Amazon controversy and clarified his stance on Jeff Bezos after a tense exchange over tariff policy.
Trump responds after Amazon backs down from tariff price displays
Amazon initially planned to show Trump’s tariffs on product listings, sparking outrage from the White House and its supporters.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled Amazon’s move as “hostile” and “political,” criticizing it as unpatriotic and partisan.
Trump was reportedly furious, feeling the retail giant was undermining his administration’s economic stance on China and fair trade.
Press Secretary Leavitt questioned Amazon’s motives, asking why similar actions weren’t taken during inflation spikes under President Biden.
Punchbowl News first broke the story, citing sources familiar with Amazon’s internal proposal regarding tariff transparency.
Amazon later walked back the idea, saying the proposal was discussed but never approved or implemented on their platform.
Trump and Bezos speak directly to resolve Amazon tariff tensions
Later that day, Trump and Jeff Bezos had a phone call to discuss the matter and defuse the growing political firestorm.
Following the conversation, Trump praised Bezos, calling him a “good guy” who “did the right thing” by resolving the dispute.
‘I appreciated what he did. Jeff Bezos is very nice. Terrific. He solved the problem very quickly. He did the right thing,’ Trump said.
‘He’s a good guy,’ he added.
Trump expressed appreciation, saying Bezos quickly fixed the issue and that their discussion was professional and solution-focused.
An Amazon spokesperson confirmed they would not label tariffs on product pages and would stick with their existing pricing strategy.
They clarified that the idea came from a single team exploring options for the “Amazon Haul” store, not a final policy.
White House escalates rhetoric, ties Amazon to Chinese propaganda
Before the reversal, Leavitt accused Amazon of aligning with Chinese propaganda and urged Americans to support American-made products.
She cited a 2021 report revealing Amazon’s collaboration with Chinese officials to censor negative reviews of Chinese publications online.
‘Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?’ she asked.
‘Of course he was p***ed,’ an aide told CNN about Trump.
‘Why should a multibillion dollar company pass off costs to consumers?’
That partnership included removing review sections for certain books and giving Chinese authorities access to special selling portals.
Leavitt also highlighted Amazon’s previous lobbying efforts in China led by Jay Carney, a former Obama official.
She argued this history proved Amazon was willing to prioritize international partnerships over American interests in global trade.
Trump’s tariff policies spark backlash from voters and economists
While Trump defends tariffs as a tool to bring jobs back to the U.S., critics warn of rising costs for consumers.
The Budget Lab at Yale estimates U.S. households could pay up to $4,400 more annually due to retaliatory Chinese tariffs.
Trump’s trade actions now include removing the $800 loophole for duty-free imports from Chinese e-commerce giants like Temu and Shein.
These broad tariffs aim to pressure China into new negotiations but have also drawn criticism for hurting American pocketbooks.