How will Americans react to Donald Trump’s tariffs on China, especially when they threaten access to cheap, Chinese-made goods? It appears we’re about to find out, following a specific action by Amazon.
Punchbowl News reported early Tuesday that Amazon “will soon show how much Trump’s tariffs are adding to the price of each product,” listing the amount next to the item’s price.
The White House did not react positively to this move.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, per Axios, called the price listing move a “hostile and political act.”
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Asked by a reporter, “Isn’t that a crystal-clear demonstration that it’s the American consumer who is paying for these policies and not China,” Leavitt unloaded on the e-commerce giant.
REPORTER: Amazon will soon display a number next to the price of each product that shows how much the Trump tariffs are adding. Isn’t that a perfect demonstration that it’s the American consumer who is paying for these policies?
LEAVITT: This is a hostile and political act by… pic.twitter.com/oewT08hBSH
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 29, 2025
“Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?” Leavitt asked.
Meanwhile, some Amazon sellers, according to Reuters, have announced their intention to withdraw from the annual Prime Day event due to the sudden increase in costs.
Trump spent much of his first term feuding with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who, at the time, was the company’s CEO but has since become its chairman. Trump frequently took exception to coverage by The Washington Post, which Bezos owns, with the company claiming that Trump interfered with a defense contract that Amazon was pursuing as a form of retaliation against Bezos. Trump, at one point, even gloated about Bezos’ divorce.
Our former President showed tremendous grace and courage under literal fire tonight. So thankful for his safety and so sad for the victims and their families.
— Jeff Bezos (@JeffBezos) July 14, 2024
However, it has been a different story during Trump’s second term. Bezos reportedly intervened to stop The Post from endorsing Kamala Harris. He has met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and attended the president’s inauguration. Like many in the tech world, Bezos has calculated that working with Trump is preferable to working against him.
However, Amazon’s action on tariffs and the White House’s reaction to them threatens to test that new era of good feeling.
Photo courtesy of the Political Tribune media library.
