(TSN): In a Tuesday morning White House briefing it was said that Jeff Bezos was considering to display the price of tariffs on products to show the price increases. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was a "hostile political act." President Donald Trump phoned Bezos about the matter. Afterward, he said Bezos will not be doing this.
Displaying the tariff would expose how Trump's tariffs would directly change the cost of products consumers purchase.
Amazon spokesman Tim Doyle confirmed in a statement that it was a mere consideration; "The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store considered the idea of listing import charges on certain products. This was never approved and is not going to happen."
Amazon Haul competes with sites like Temu.
Nonetheless, the press secretary had held up a print out referring to Bezos being in cahoots with a “Chinese propaganda ar.,” She was referring to a 2021 story from Reuters. She said is “another reason why Americans should buy American.”
Bezos had a vote of confidence in the U.S. Senate.
"I urge more companies, particularly national retailers that compete with Amazon, to adopt this practice," Senator Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor.
"If Amazon has the courage to display why prices are going up because of tariffs, so should all of our other national retailers who compete with them. And I am calling on them to do it now."
Members if the president's team had informed him of the prospect of the change.
It is striking for a president to directly contact a U.S. business owner and question and/or complain about their business practices. Considering that Bezos was called out and shamed in the briefing it was surprising that he when President Trump said of the call, "Jeff Alexis was very nice. We solved the problem very quickly...He's a good guy."
Director of the White House Economic Council Kevin Hassett said the consumer will not bear the tariff, refuting the commonly held belied that a tariff is a tax.