Donald Trump’s White House has launched a blistering attack on billionaire Amazon boss Jeff Bezos after reports emerged that the tech giant is planning to display the cost of tariffs imposed by his administration alongside product prices. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt branded the move “a hostile and political act” during a fiery briefing on Tuesday, accusing the tech giant of deliberately trying to undermine the President’s economic agenda.
She asked: “Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years? This is another reason why Americans should buy American.” The remarks triggered a 2% drop in Amazon’s share price in premarket trading and signalled a fresh escalation in tensions between Mr Trump and the company’s founder — just 100 days into his second term. Mr Trump, whose net worth is estimated at around £5.1 billion ($6.4 billion), has clashed repeatedly with Mr Bezos over the years. But the Amazon boss, who, with his estimated worth of than £156 billion ($195 billion), is significantly richer — has in recent months seemed to be repairing relations with the White House.
Mr Bezos attended Mr Trump’s inauguration in January and authorised a £790,000 ($1 million) donation to his fund.
He also ordered the Washington Post, which he owns, to limit its opinion section to pieces defending “personal liberties and free markets” — a move widely seen as a gesture to conservative critics.
However, according to Punchbowl News, Amazon’s decision to show how much of an item’s cost comes from Trump-imposed tariffs has rattled senior officials.
The tariff amount will reportedly appear next to the product’s total listed price — something White House aides say is clearly designed to send a political message.
Asked whether the move showed it was “the American consumer, not China, who is going to have to pay,” Ms Leavitt said she had “just got off the phone with the president about Amazon’s announcement”.
Pressed about whether Mr Bezos is still seen as a Trump supporter, she said: “Look, I will not speak to the president’s relationships with Jeff Bezos.
"But I will tell you that this is certainly a hostile and political action by Amazon.”
Amazon has been approached for comment.
