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Molly Butler / Media Matters

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MAGA media followed Trump administration in attacking Amazon for report it would display tariff costs

After the criticism, Amazon said it “was never a consideration for the main Amazon site”

Written by Zachary Pleat

Published

MAGA media figures quickly joined in with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt’s attack on Amazon amid initial reporting that the online retailer would display tariff price increases for customers on its website.

Some encouraged using alternatives to Amazon, some celebrated a dip in its stock price, and others complained that the retailer didn’t similarly flag price changes caused by the COVID-19 pandemic-related surge in the inflation rate.

Previous reporting has shown that after President Donald Trump announced his tariffs, there was an average price increase of 29% for hundreds of products on Amazon and that the retailer was losing sellers for its July Prime Day event due to the tariffs.

After the news drew criticism, Amazon said in a statement to The Washington Post that this policy had been a consideration only for its lower-cost Amazon Haul website, not for its main website. CNN additionally reported that Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain about the idea.

  • The Trump administration attacked Amazon over report that it would display tax increases from Trump’s tariffs

    • Punchbowl News: “Amazon to display tariff costs for consumers.” Punchbowl News reported: “Amazon doesn’t want to shoulder the blame for the cost of President Donald Trump’s trade war. So the e-commerce giant will soon show how much Trump’s tariffs are adding to the price of each product, according to a person familiar with the plan. The shopping site will display how much of an item’s cost is derived from tariffs – right next to the product’s total listed price.” [Punchbowl News, 4/29/25]
    • White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt: “This is a hostile and political act by Amazon.” Leavitt was responding to a reporter asking during a press briefing about the Amazon policy and whether it’s a “crystal clear demonstration that it’s the American consumer, and not China, who is going to have to pay for” Trump’s tariffs. Leavitt added: “Why didn’t Amazon do this when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the highest level in 40 years?” [CNBC, 4/29/25]
    • After Leavitt criticized the news, an Amazon spokesperson told The Washington Post that “this was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties.” The statement also said: “The team that runs our ultra-low-cost Amazon Haul store has considered listing import charges on certain products.” Further reporting from CNN stated that “the contemplated change to Amazon Haul was driven by the Trump administration getting rid of the ‘de minimis exemption,’ which allowed packages valued at less than $800 to enter the United States tariff-free.” [The Washington Post, 4/29/25; CNN, 4/29/25]
    • CNN reported that Trump called Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to complain about the proposal to display tariff price increases. According to CNN, Amazon released its statement on the policy following the president’s call, and Amazon added: “This was never approved and not going to happen.” [CNN, 4/29/25]

  • MAGA media followed the White House in attacking Amazon

    • Fox Business host Charles Payne: Amazon is “playing a dangerous political game.” Payne added: “I wonder if Amazon will also explain to the American public why its profit margin must increase every single year and how much Jeff Bezos's $500 million wedding will cost each customer.” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • Fox Business anchor Maria Bartiromo complained: “There was no mention whatsoever at Amazon about Joe Biden's inflation.” Bartiromo added in a clip reposted by a Trump White House social media account: “And the fact is is that we got to 40-year highs. Inflation, measured by the consumer price index, was up 9.1%. We all remember. We were at the cash register." [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski: “Amazon never deserved a seat at the inauguration of President Trump. And they certainly don’t deserve US government contracts at AWS.” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • LibsofTikTok: “This is the same guy who partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm… . Blatantly political.” [TwitterX, 4/29/25]
    • Grace Chong of Steve Bannon’s War Room: “Amazon wiped out mom and pop stores that held communities together. F-ck em!” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • Former Women for Trump co-chair Gina Loudon (Dr. Gina): “This is a good day for @eBay. @amazon sealed their fate.” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • MAGA podcaster Benny Johnson: “Amazon's stock after getting obliterated by the White House for announcing they will be displaying ‘tariff prices’ next to products 📉.” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • Media Research Center: “Karoline Leavitt calls out Amazon for its pro-China policy of adding the cost of Trump's tariffs next to their prices.” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • GOP strategist Alex Bruesewitz: “Stop shopping with Amazon.” Bruesewitz directed followers to another online marketplace instead. [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • Right-wing commenter Chuck Callesto: “Amazon’s stock is tanking. We should all go back to Walmart and forget Amazon.” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]
    • Townhall.com: “Of course, the liberals in the media are calling Amazon heroes — instead of highlighting their hypocrisy.” The account added: “They didn't care to highlight the record inflation during the Biden administration!” [Twitter/X, 4/29/25]