The White House has strongly criticized Amazon over its proposal to show customers how much they pay in tariffs for each product purchased on the platform. Officials argue that this move is politically motivated and harmful.
Reports suggest that Amazon intended to reveal these fees to highlight the impact of former President Donald Trump’s trade policies. However, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt condemned the idea, calling it a “hostile and political act” against the administration. She mentioned consulting with Trump before making the statement.
The controversy deepened when Leavitt referenced a 2021 Reuters report alleging Amazon’s ties to Chinese propaganda efforts. Meanwhile, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has had a complicated relationship with Trump—donating $1 million to his inauguration while his newspaper, The Washington Post, opted not to endorse any candidate in the upcoming election.
Trump’s trade policies have heavily relied on tariffs, initially imposing high rates before scaling some back. However, China retaliated with its own steep tariffs, pushing rates as high as 245% on certain goods. If Amazon had proceeded with its plan, shoppers would have seen exactly how much these policies cost them—something the White House clearly opposed.
Amazon later clarified that the tariff display feature was never officially approved and would not be implemented. Trump, in response, praised Bezos for quickly abandoning the idea, calling him a “good person” for resolving the issue.
