U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly criticized Amazon founder Jeff Bezos after reports surfaced that the retail giant was considering displaying the cost of trade tariffs directly to customers on its budget shopping platform, Amazon Haul. The move, first reported by Punchbowl News, sparked political backlash as the administration grapples with growing scrutiny over its protectionist trade policies.
Amazon Haul, launched last year to compete with fast-fashion platforms like Shein and Temu, was reportedly evaluating whether to include a breakdown of added import costs on select product listings. The idea stemmed from the expiration of an exemption on tariffs for shipments under $800, significantly affecting goods imported from China. However, Amazon has since confirmed that while the idea was internally discussed, it was never approved and will not be implemented—neither on Amazon Haul nor its primary marketplace.
The White House was quick to react to the report, framing it as an unpatriotic move designed to draw public attention to the negative consequences of Trump’s trade strategy. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt labeled the proposal “a hostile and political act by Amazon,” and questioned why similar measures were not considered during the Biden administration, when inflation reached record highs. She further emphasized the importance of supporting American-made products, stating, “This is another reason why Americans should buy American.”
President Trump, marking his first 100 days back in office, has enacted a wave of new tariffs aimed at protecting U.S. manufacturing and generating additional revenue. These measures have imposed significant new duties—10% or more on many imports, and as high as 145% on Chinese goods. The impact has already begun to ripple through the supply chain, with many businesses—especially e-commerce platforms that rely heavily on Chinese suppliers—raising prices or considering changes to pricing transparency.
Platforms like Shein and Temu, known for their direct-to-consumer shipping models, have already announced pricing adjustments to reflect these new costs. Analysts estimate that Chinese merchants account for nearly half of the sellers on Amazon’s U.S. site, underscoring the potential impact of the tariffs on the platform’s pricing strategy.
Despite previous clashes, including Amazon’s 2019 lawsuit against the Pentagon alleging political interference by Trump, the president struck a conciliatory tone after speaking with Bezos. “Jeff Bezos was very nice. He solved the problem quickly and did the right thing,” Trump told reporters, adding that Bezos was “a good guy.”
The interaction marks a surprising moment of cooperation between two figures with a complex and often tense history.
