Trump says he’ll personally call CEOs who pass tariff costs to shoppers, after Amazon drops tariff info from listings following his intervention.
What happens when the President doesn’t like a business decision? For Donald Trump, it means picking up the phone-no matter how big the company.
Trump’s Call to Bezos: A Presidential Power Move
President Donald Trump revealed in a recent NBC interview that he personally called Amazon’s executive chairman Jeff Bezos after reports surfaced that the retailer planned to display tariff charges on certain products in response to the administration’s new 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. Trump described Bezos as “a very nice guy” and said, “We have a rapport. I asked him about the tariff charge language… He said, ‘Well, I don’t want to do that,’ and he took it off immediately”.
Amazon later confirmed that while one team had considered listing import charges, the plan was never approved and would not go forward. The call underscores a warming relationship between Trump and Bezos compared to previous years, with Amazon even donating $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund and Bezos attending the ceremony.
“I’ll Always Call”: Trump’s Approach to Corporate Disagreements
Asked if he’d use the same approach with other CEOs, Trump replied, “Sure. I’ll always call people if I disagree with them. If I think that somebody’s doing something that’s incorrect, wrong or maybe hurtful to the country, I’ll call”. He contrasted his hands-on style with his predecessor, saying, “Biden wouldn’t call because he didn’t know what was happening, but I do”.
Tariffs, Trade, and the Cost to Consumers
Trump defended his steep tariffs on Chinese imports, arguing they’re meant to encourage companies to manufacture in the U.S. rather than simply pass costs to consumers. “I don’t view it as a tax. I view it as an incentive for people to come into the United States and build plants, factories, offices… The company eats the tariff. And it’s not passed along at all,” he claimed.
However, other major retailers, including Temu, have started listing tariff fees as “import charges” on purchases, while brands like PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble warn that tariffs are already impacting their earnings and may lead to higher prices for shoppers.
Less Is More? Trump’s Take on Consumer Goods
Addressing concerns about rising prices and potential shortages, Trump downplayed the impact on American families. “Maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls. And maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally,” he said, insisting that Americans don’t need to “waste money on a trade deficit with China for things we don’t need, for junk that we don’t need”.
Would you want the president to call your boss if he didn’t like your company’s decisions? Trump says he’s just getting started-and America’s biggest brands are already feeling the pressure.
