Former US President Donald Trump had some surprising words for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, calling him “a good guy” just hours after reports said Trump was angry with him.
The controversy began when Amazon was said to be planning to show extra tariff costs next to the price of some products. These tariffs are part of Trump’s new policy, which puts higher taxes on imported goods from countries like China.
The White House had called Amazon’s move “a hostile and political act.” But after a personal phone call between Trump and Bezos, the tech giant changed its plan.
Soon after Amazon confirmed that it would not show tariff charges on product pages, Trump, 78, praised Bezos publicly. He said, “He’s a good guy. Jeff Bezos was very nice, he was terrific, he solved the problem very quickly, and he did the right thing.”
Amazon was reportedly planning to make the cost of tariffs visible to customers through its Amazon Haul store, which offers very low-cost products.
This was seen by the Trump team as a way to make the former President’s tariff policy look bad in front of the public. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt even said the timing of the announcement was suspicious and accused Amazon of having political motives.
But a short statement released by Amazon later cleared the air. The spokesperson said, “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.”
According to sources, it was Trump’s direct call to Bezos that led to this decision. Trump, who has decades of experience in business before entering politics, clearly did not like the idea of Amazon passing on the tariff costs to buyers.
Two senior White House officials told CNN that Trump was very upset about Amazon’s plan. One aide reportedly said, “Of course he was p***ed… Why should a multibillion-dollar company pass off costs to consumers?”
Press Secretary Leavitt repeated the same feeling during a media briefing earlier in the week. She told reporters that Amazon’s move was political. She said, “This is a hostile and political act by Amazon.
It’s not a surprise because, as Reuters recently wrote, Amazon has partnered with a Chinese propaganda arm. So this is another reason why Americans should buy American.”
The situation has brought attention once again to the long and sometimes difficult relationship between Trump and Bezos. Both are billionaires and have often criticized each other in public.
In the past, Bezos has spoken out against Trump’s policies and comments, and Trump has hit back several times, especially when Bezos owned The Washington Post, a newspaper that often criticized Trump’s administration.
However, things seem to have changed recently. Back in December, just weeks before Trump was expected to return to the political spotlight, Bezos spoke in a more positive tone about him.
Bezos, who has four children, said in an interview, “What I’ve seen so far is he is calmer than he was the first time and more settled. You’ve probably grown in the last eight years. He has, too. He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him.”
Trump’s recent praise for Bezos may be a sign that both men are now trying to work together more smoothly, especially when it comes to major issues like business regulation, technology, and tariffs.
For Trump, who is known for being direct and strong in his views, calling someone “a good guy” is usually a sign that they are on the same page.
As for Amazon, this U-turn may help the company stay on better terms with Trump and his supporters, especially at a time when American companies are being urged to support local manufacturing and reduce dependency on imports from countries like China.
The incident has also shown how much influence Trump still holds, not just in politics, but also in the business world. A single phone call from him was enough to change the direction of one of the biggest tech companies in the world.
This is not the first time Amazon has had to deal with political pressure. In the past, it faced criticism over labor conditions, taxes, and its role in e-commerce competition. But this latest issue around tariffs shows how companies like Amazon are now walking a thin line between business and politics.
It also reminds everyone that even the biggest names in the tech industry must think twice before making decisions that can be seen as political.
In this case, Amazon’s decision not to display tariff charges has likely saved it from further trouble with Trump’s team and may also help avoid confusion or anger among its American customers.
For now, the issue seems to be resolved, and both Trump and Bezos appear to have moved on. But it’s clear that in today’s political climate, even a pricing decision on a website can turn into a national headline.
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