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Trump called Bezos after a report that Amazon would post products' import charges
A photo shows an Amazon package in a facility in Horn-Bad Meinberg, western Germany, in December 2024.
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Ina Fassbender
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AFP via Getty Images
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After Punchbowl News reported Tuesday morning that Amazon would start showing how much of a product's cost came from tariffs, the White House quickly slammed the proposal.
"I just got off the phone with the president about Amazon's announcement — this is a hostile and political act by Amazon," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters.
It wasn't the only phone call about the issue on Tuesday: President Donald Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos after he learned about the news story laying out a plan to show tariff price hikes, two sources said on condition of anonymity to speak about the private conversation.
Later in the morning, the retail giant said that was not the plan at all.
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"The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products," Amazon spokesperson Tim Doyle said in a statement. "This was never approved and is not going to happen."
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The construction industry has long struggled to find enough workers. Now, industry officials say Trump's immigration crackdown is making it worse. -
The Federal Aviation Administration will reduce air traffic at many busy airports to maintain safety during a government shutdown that has led to staffing shortages of air traffic controllers. -
The government shutdown is taking a growing toll on air traffic controllers who are working without pay. Staffing shortages led to big delays over the weekend, raising concerns about travel chaos.
Amazon Haul is a part of the company's website that sells products costing $20 or less.
Trump told reporters later in the day that Bezos "did the right thing" after the president called him to discuss the reported plan for Amazon to show how tariff costs were increasing prices.
"Jeff Bezos is very nice. Terrific. He solved the problem very quickly. He did the right thing. Good guy," Trump said at the White House.
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration — including a 10% tariff on global imports and a 145% tariff on Chinese goods — have companies and economic experts warning that prices could likely rise for American consumers.
Amazon was the second-largest U.S. retailer by sales last year, according to the National Retail Federation, trailing only Walmart.
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Responding to the Punchbowl article, Leavitt said consumers should endeavor to buy products made in the U.S. "It's another reason why we are onshoring critical supply chains here at home, to shore up our own critical supply chain and boost our own manufacturing here."
Bezos has been seen as supportive of Trump. Amazon donated to Trump's inauguration fund, and Bezos attended the ceremony in January. Last year, the management of the Bezos-owned Washington Post declined to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in 36 years. As NPR reported at the time, the announcement came after the newspaper's editorial page editor had approved an endorsement for Trump's rival, Democratic nominee Kamala Harris.
Copyright 2025 NPR
Corrected April 29, 2025 at 10:30 AM PDT
An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Jeff Bezos donated to President Trump's inauguration. In fact, Amazon donated to Trump's inauguration fund. The story also incorrectly identified Bezos as Amazon's CEO. He stepped down from that role in 2021.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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