On President Trump’s 100th day in office, tensions erupted between the White House and Amazon.
In a press briefing on Tuesday morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt accused Amazon of being “hostile and political,” following a report from Punchbowl News—denied by Amazon—claiming the company would display detailed tariff-related price hikes alongside its products.
This move would highlight to American consumers that they were bearing the costs of Trump’s tariff strategies, contrary to his claims that China was responsible.
After the news broke, Trump had a phone conversation with Jeff Bezos, Amazon’s founder, as confirmed by several sources. Following this, Amazon quickly denied plans to implement the pricing changes, and by the afternoon, Trump was expressing admiration for Bezos again.
“Jeff Bezos is very nice,” Trump told reporters while heading to a Michigan rally celebrating his first 100 days of his second term. “He solved the problem quickly. He did the right thing. Good guy.”
The rapid shift in Trump’s stance towards Bezos was revealing. Bezos, like several billionaires, has worked hard to maintain a favorable relationship with the White House, while Trump has attracted these wealthy individuals by promising to enhance business interests. However, the moment Bezos appeared to prioritize his company’s interests at the potential expense of Trump’s political image, the White House reacted swiftly.
This response seemed effective.
Leavitt criticized Amazon while alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, mentioning that she had discussed the Punchbowl report with Trump. She questioned why Amazon didn’t display such pricing adjustments during the Biden administration amidst inflation.
She noted it was “not surprising” from Amazon, showcasing a 2021 Reuters article titled “Amazon partnered with China propaganda arm.”
Subsequently, an Amazon representative stated that the company had only looked into a similar idea for a new experimental section of its site called Amazon Haul, which competes with the Chinese retailer Temu that has been disclosing “import charges” due to ending a customs loophole for low-cost items.
Ty Rogers, an Amazon spokesman, stated, “Teams discuss ideas all the time. This particular idea was not under consideration for the primary Amazon site, it was never approved and won’t be happening.”
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick remarked on social media, proclaiming this as “Good news.”
Trump’s tariffs on Chinese products have sparked a rising trade conflict, despite easing broader global tariffs amid reports of negotiations for new trade agreements with multiple nations.
Leavitt’s critique of Amazon was particularly notable as Bezos has strived to align closely with this administration, including a $1 million donation to Trump’s inaugural fund that secured premium seats for him and his future wife during the inauguration.
Before the election, Bezos halted a Washington Post editorial in support of Kamala Harris, and recently, Amazon Prime added several seasons of “The Apprentice” to its streaming service, alongside a deal to create a documentary about Melania Trump.
In December, Bezos discussed his shift to support Trump at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit, stating, “He seems calmer now than he did before,” expressing hope about Trump’s focus on reducing regulations.
He added, “I’m very optimistic. He appears motivated to lessen regulations.”
In a recent cover story for The Atlantic, Trump was asked about his association with Bezos and replied, “He’s 100 percent. He’s been great.”
However, when Leavitt was asked if Bezos could still be viewed as a Trump ally following the recent report, she sidestepped the question.
“I cannot comment on the president’s relationship with Jeff Bezos,” she stated, “but I can say that Amazon’s actions are clearly hostile and political.”
