U.S. President Donald Trump praised Amazon founder Jeff Bezos on Tuesday (April 29) for saying he “did the right thing” and the plan will show consumers how much product the U.S. tariffs have increased. Amazon is considering a report showing tariff fees on its platform creating immediate tensions with the White House, especially when the government is in office for 100 days and seeks to defend its tariff policies.
Trump confirms his personal phone number with Bezos
Trump seems to have confirmed his conversation with Bezos on the matter. Trump was accepting reporters that Amazon executives would be described as “very good” and “good” and added that Bezos had “quickly solved the problem” and that he was “a good guy.”
“I called him and we had a good conversation. He did the right thing,” Trump said.
The president’s remarks are amid increasing government concerns about the impact of tariffs on American consumers.
Amazon responds to criticism
Amazon responded quickly to the report and issued a statement to clarify the situation. The company acknowledged that its low-cost Amazon shipping store “considered the idea of listing import fees on certain products.” However, Amazon made it clear that the plan was never approved and would not move forward.
“This has never been approved and will not happen,” Amazon said in a statement.
The White House reduces plans to “hostile”
The plan has sparked sharp criticism from the White House, which press secretary Karoline Leavitt called it “the hostile and political behavior of Amazon.” Leavitt questioned why Amazon did not implement similar policies during the Biden administration, which has struggled to deal with inflation rates that have not been seen in four decades.
“When the Biden administration rose to its highest level in 40 years, why didn’t Amazon do that?” Levitt asked in a briefing in Washington on Tuesday.
Trump’s tariff policy and its impact
Trump’s tariff policy has been a debate among critics who argue that the cost of imports ultimately increases prices for American consumers. After taking office, Trump imposed a benchmark tariff of 10% on goods in most countries and additional tariffs on many countries, including China. The government has also imposed tariffs on specific sectors, prompting retaliation from Beijing and other trading partners.
Trump adviser criticism of the plan
Trump’s top adviser Stephen Miller also criticized Amazon’s proposed tariffs. Miller argued in a speech by Fox News that many American consumers want to know where the products they are buying come from, adding: “Many American consumers want to buy products from the United States.”
Miller’s comments reflect concerns about the transparency of Amazon’s products’ origins and widespread criticism of foreign imports.
Bezos and Amazon’s relationship with Trump
Trump has a complex relationship with Trump and Bezos, especially due to Trump’s frequent criticism of the Washington Post owned by Bezos. But in recent years, Bezos and Amazon appear to be trying to improve rapport with Trump. Bezos bought a documentary about First Lady Melania Trump for $40 million, becoming Trump’s inauguration fund, and even showed the plot of Trump’s reality show Amazon Prime Video Apprentice.
