President Donald Trump personally called Jeff Bezos on Tuesday morning after learning Amazon considered showing U.S. tariff costs directly on some product listings, sparking a sharp political standoff over the visibility of rising import prices.
Amazon weighed listing tariffs — then reversed course
The controversy began when reports surfaced that Amazon was preparing to show how much of a product’s cost was due to tariffs, starting on its Amazon Haul platform, which sells ultra-low-cost items. The proposed move would have visually linked Trump’s tariffs to higher consumer prices.
Amazon quickly backtracked.
“This was never approved and is not going to happen,” an Amazon spokesperson told CNN and NBC News. “Nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties, including our main site.”
Trump called Bezos after hearing the report
Trump, reportedly “pissed” about the idea, called Bezos directly after a senior White House official flagged the plan. While the president later described the call as positive — “Jeff Bezos was very nice. He was terrific. He solved the problem very quickly” — the incident underscored growing tensions between Washington and Big Tech.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called Amazon’s reported plan a “hostile and political act,” claiming the company was trying to shift blame for price increases. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick downplayed the economic impact, saying a 10% tariff “won’t change virtually any price” — except possibly on niche imports like mangoes.
Retailers face pressure as tariff visibility increases
Trump has imposed a sweeping 145% tariff on Chinese imports, with a baseline 10% tax on goods from other countries. While Amazon has resisted displaying those costs, rival platforms Temu and Shein already list import charges at checkout, making the impact of tariffs more visible to consumers.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, however, urged companies to go further.
“To the large businesses that sell to consumers, I say: show your customers how much tariffs are hurting their pocketbook,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. “People deserve to know.”
Bezos’ ties to Trump grow despite friction
Despite the dust-up, Bezos has cultivated a working relationship with the Trump White House during his second term. He congratulated Trump after the 2024 election and attended inauguration events alongside business leaders like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg.
Amazon has donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund and is currently producing a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump.
Still, Trump’s trade policy has hit Bezos’ wallet. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, Bezos’ net worth has dropped by $30 billion in 2025, partially due to the tariffs and a dip in Amazon stock.
What’s next?
As tariff enforcement expands under Trump’s trade doctrine, Amazon and other e-commerce platforms may face increased scrutiny — and hard choices about whether to shield or share costs with consumers.
With tensions between Big Tech and the White House flaring again, the retail industry is bracing for more political and economic volatility heading into the second half of 2025.
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