The Trump administration lashed out at Amazon over reports that the e-commerce giant planned to display the impact of President Trump’s import tariffs on product prices. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denounced the alleged plan, calling it a ‘hostile and political act by Amazon.’
The controversy began with a Punchbowl News report suggesting Amazon intended to clearly show tariff costs for online shoppers. However, Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle later clarified that the idea of listing import charges was considered by the team running Amazon’s ultra-low-cost ‘Amazon Haul’ store but was never approved or implemented.
Despite Amazon’s denial, the incident drew significant political attention. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) praised Amazon’s supposed plan and urged other retailers to follow suit, stating, ‘If Amazon has the courage to display why prices are going up because of tariffs, so should all of our other national retailers who compete with them.’ After Leavitt’s criticism and Amazon’s denial, Schumer doubled down, suggesting that Trump’s reaction showed a desire to suppress truthful information about tariff impacts.
The backlash against Amazon came after reports that Trump personally called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain about the alleged plan. While Amazon declined to comment on the call, the swift and forceful response from the Trump administration suggests sensitivity about the political popularity of the tariffs. Trump’s allies have been probing former government officials, and over 100 political opponents have been targeted for retribution, adding context to the administration’s reaction.
Amazon has reasons to avoid conflict with the Trump administration, including its ongoing Project Kuiper satellite initiative and its fight against antitrust charges brought by the US Federal Trade Commission. The incident highlights the complex relationship between major tech companies and the current administration, particularly regarding trade policies and regulatory issues.
