Trump team slams Amazon's plan to show tariff impact on prices, calls it a ‘hostile’ move; stock falls

The White House on Tuesday lashed out at Amazon over reports that the e-commerce giant plans to highlight the cost impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs directly on product listings.

At a press briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the move as a “hostile and political act,” adding that she had discussed the issue with Trump earlier in the day.

The backlash followed a report from Punchbowl News stating that Amazon will soon begin showing how much of a product’s price is driven by tariffs — positioned next to the final listed price. The move could offer consumers greater clarity on how tariffs are affecting their costs.

During a press conference, Leavitt informed journalists that the decision was expected and referenced a Reuters report indicating Amazon's past collaboration with a Chinese propaganda organization. She further revealed that she had recently discussed the issue with President Donald Trump prior to sharing her thoughts. 

“This is a hostile and political act by Amazon,” Leavitt said, suggesting it could damage any remaining goodwill between the company, its founder Jeff Bezos, and the Trump team.

Shares of Amazon.com Inc dipped in early trading on Tuesday following comments of Leavitt, who described the tech giant's decision to display tariffs on products as a hostile move.

During a press briefing on Tuesday morning, Leavitt criticized Amazon for this rumoured action.

According to Benzinga Pro, Amazon's stock had fallen by 1.93% to $184.08 by the time of publication on Tuesday.

The e-commerce giant is set to release its first-quarter earnings after the market closes on Thursday. According to analysts, the company is projected to announce earnings of $1.36 per share and revenue of $154.92 billion.