On April 29, 2025, the Trump administration faced accusations of incompetence after White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt lambasted Amazon for reportedly planning to display tariff costs on its product listings. The controversy erupted when Punchbowl News reported that Amazon intended to show how much of an item’s price stemmed from Trump’s new tariffs, prompting a fiery response from Leavitt during a press briefing marking Trump’s 100th day in office. “This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” Leavitt declared, claiming she had just spoken with Trump about the issue. She accused Amazon of failing to highlight inflation under Biden and cited a 2021 Reuters article alleging the company’s ties to Chinese propaganda. The remarks, however, backfired when Amazon clarified it had only considered listing import charges for its low-cost Amazon Haul platform, not its main site, and scrapped the idea entirely.
The White House’s swift escalation, including Trump personally calling Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain, drew sharp criticism. Democrats, like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, urged retailers to reveal tariff costs, arguing transparency would expose the burden on consumers. A CNN poll showed 60% of Americans believe Trump’s policies have raised living costs, with 55% viewing tariffs as bad policy. Critics, including The New Republic, labeled Leavitt’s response “wildly disproportionate,” suggesting it exposed Trump’s vulnerability on trade policy. The administration’s claim that foreign nations, not consumers, pay tariffs was undermined by economists, with UBS’s Paul Donovan noting that U.S. importers pass costs to shoppers.
Leavitt’s briefing, alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, aimed to tout economic gains, like lower interest rates and gas prices. However, her focus on Amazon’s alleged bias, including waving a printed Reuters article, shifted attention to the administration’s defensive posture. X posts, like one from @MRodrigoX, called Leavitt’s reaction “deranged,” arguing it confirmed tariffs hit consumers. Amazon’s quick reversal—announcing within hours that tariff displays were “never approved”—highlighted the White House’s overreach. Bezos, who donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration and dined with him at Mar-a-Lago, later received Trump’s praise, with the president calling him “terrific” for resolving the issue.
The incident underscores broader tensions in Trump’s trade war, with 145% tariffs on Chinese goods driving price hikes. Retailers like Temu and Shein have added import charges, while Walmart and Target warned of potential shortages. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell cautioned that tariffs could fuel inflation and slow growth, prompting Trump to demand his firing. The White House’s attempt to frame Amazon as a villain failed to mask the economic reality: tariffs are raising costs for Americans. As Leavitt’s remarks fueled perceptions of chaos, the episode revealed a White House struggling to control the narrative on a policy central to Trump’s agenda.
