Amazon is under fire from the White House after reports suggested the company might start showing customers how much they pay in tariffs for each purchase. Officials see this as a deliberate attack on Trump’s trade agenda.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Amazon of engaging in a “hostile political act,” confirming that she had discussed the matter with Trump beforehand. The administration also raised past allegations of Amazon’s connections to Chinese propaganda, further intensifying the criticism.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, has had a turbulent relationship with Trump. While he contributed to Trump’s inauguration, his ownership of The Washington Post led to controversy when the paper decided against endorsing any presidential candidate this election cycle.
Trump’s trade policies have been defined by tariffs, with some rates initially high before being adjusted. China’s retaliatory tariffs, however, pushed costs even higher. Amazon’s plan to reveal these fees would have made the financial burden clear to consumers—a move the White House strongly resisted.
Amazon later clarified that the feature was never officially approved and would not move forward. Trump, seemingly satisfied with the outcome, praised Bezos for addressing the issue promptly.
