On Tuesday, a single-source report from Punchbowl Information claimed that Amazon would quickly add a “tariff” line merchandise to its listings as a result of “Amazon doesn’t wish to shoulder the blame for the price of President Donald Trump’s commerce struggle.”
Amazon shortly denied many of the report—however not earlier than White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt channeled her boss, President Donald Trump, with abject fury on the mere notion of worth transparency for customers.
“Why didn’t Amazon do that when the Biden administration hiked inflation to the best stage in 40 years?” Leavitt mentioned. “And I’d additionally add that it’s not a shock as a result of, as Reuters just lately wrote, Amazon has just lately partnered with a Chinese language propaganda arm, so that is another excuse why People should purchase American.”
Amazon does checklist taxes on its checkout web page, so sure, Amazon completely does inform customers of government-imposed charges on gross sales, even when Biden was president. However this fury is weird, on condition that Trump is so deeply infatuated with tariffs.
Throughout an interview on the Financial Membership of Chicago on Oct. 15, 2024, he mentioned, “To me essentially the most stunning phrase within the dictionary is ‘tariff.’” He added that the phrase had such adverse connotations that “[i]t wants a public relations agency.”
Again and again on final 12 months’s marketing campaign path, he hit his pro-tariff message.
Right here he was just a few days later, this time in Michigan, saying, “It is essentially the most stunning phrase within the dictionary. You could have numerous phrases which are rattling good like ‘love.’ However I feel it is extra stunning than love. The phrase ‘tariff.’”
He stored the theme going at his inauguration.
“I all the time say ‘tariffs’ is essentially the most stunning phrase to me within the dictionary. Then I used to be reprimanded by the pretend information. They mentioned, ‘What about love, faith, and God?’ I mentioned I agree. Let’s put God No. 1. Let’s put faith No. 2,” he mentioned at his post-inaugural rally at Capitol One Space on Jan. 20. “‘Love,’ I do not know, we acquired to place that No. 3, I suppose, proper? After which it is ‘tariff’ as a result of tariffs are going to make us wealthy as hell. It should convey our nation’s companies again that left us.”
Regardless of his backtracking, it’s clear: Trump loves tariffs.
So why is he instantly so indignant at Amazon for wanting to place the phrase “tariffs” on its product listings? He must be blissful! He ought to need essentially the most stunning phrase on the planet in as many locations as doable.
The explanations are apparent. Tariffs are trashing the economic system. They brought about the economic system to contract within the first quarter of 2025. A recession is usually outlined as two consecutive quarters of financial contraction, and we’re midway there. No severe particular person believes that even larger tariffs will make issues higher.
Trump might wish to screech on Reality Social that “[t]ariffs will quickly begin kicking in, and corporations are beginning to transfer into the USA in document numbers.” However even when that had been the case (and it gained’t be), that might nonetheless imply larger costs for customers. And on condition that Trump gained the election largely on his promise to decrease costs “on Day 1,” he can’t afford to confess that he fucked this one up royally.
Thanks to the Day by day Kos neighborhood who continues to combat so arduous with Day by day Kos. Your reader assist means the whole lot. We’ll proceed to have you ever coated and preserve you knowledgeable, so please donate simply $3 to assist assist the work we do.
