Jeff Bezos' possibly move on displaying tariff cost on Amazon has left Trump seething. SOURCE: MEGA
Donald Trump and Jeff Bezos’ once-friendly relationship may be unraveling after news broke that Amazon plans to display tariff costs alongside product prices.
The report reportedly triggered an intense reaction from Trump, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt losing her composure during a press conference on April 29.
During the briefing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was asked about Amazon’s decision, initially reported by Punchbowl News. However, Bessent didn’t respond as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt quickly jumped in, revealing she had just spoken with Trump about the issue.
“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” the 27-year-old fumed. “Why didn’t Amazon take action when the Biden administration drove inflation to a 40-year high?”
Leavitt went on to accuse Bezos and Amazon of “partnering with a Chinese propaganda arm” and urged Americans to “buy American.” When asked if Amazon still supported Trump, she skirted the question.
Leavitt responded, “I won’t speak to the president’s relationship with Bezos, but this is undoubtedly a hostile and political move by Amazon.”
Trump was reportedly furious over Bezos’ apparent action. Two senior White House officials told CNN that Trump personally called the billionaire to express his frustration.
“Of course he was pissed,” one official said. “Why should a multibillion-dollar company pass those costs to consumers?”
However, an Amazon spokesperson clarified that the company had not yet decided to display tariff costs on their website. They explained, “The team managing Amazon Haul considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and won’t happen.”
On X, users quickly reacted to Leavitt’s comments. One person said, “We’ve gone from a government of ‘the more you know’ to one that doesn’t want consumers to be educated, so they can’t find out.”
@cheddar The White House called Amazon’s plan to break down tariff costs on products “hostile” and “political.” Amazon shares dropped 2% in pre-market trading after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized the company’s plan, calling it a “hostile and political act.” The company is reportedly preparing to show customers how U.S. tariffs, imposed during President Trump’s administration, impact product prices. #amazon #trump #tariff #price #shop #china #politics #trade #dc #news ♬ original sound - Cheddar
One user on X commented, “Good, they should. Inform people how badly they’re being affected by tariffs,” while another warned, “Things are going to get ugly when everyone starts doing this.”
Trump’s tariff hike plan has faced backlash, particularly from the wealthy and elite. The 78-year-old president revealed a 10 percent “baseline” tariff affecting all U.S. imports, except those from Mexico and Canada.
The hike sent shockwaves through the stock market, causing significant losses for major figures like Bezos. At the time, Bezos’ net worth dropped by a staggering $30.9 billion. Trump’s close associate, Elon Musk, also felt the impact, losing $27 billion off his total net worth.
On April 9, Trump appeared to reconsider his position after facing significant backlash. He announced a 90-day pause on the price increase but reaffirmed the tariff hike on China, accusing them of showing a “lack of respect.”
Trump explained that he had been contemplating the decision for “a period of time” and noted, “I would say this morning. Over the last few days, I’ve been thinking about it.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt supported the move, calling Trump’s strategy simply the “art of the deal.”
Previously, Bezos and Trump had a seemingly positive relationship. Bezos attended Trump’s inauguration and was even rumored to have considered inviting him to his Italian wedding with Lauren Sanchez.
