President Donald Trump recently recounted a phone conversation he had with Amazon founder and Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos, revealing that he would not hesitate to contact other CEOs if similar situations arise. In an interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” aired on Sunday, Trump shared details of the discussion, which took place earlier in the week following Amazon’s initial plans to begin listing tariff-related charges on some of its products. The decision came after the Trump administration introduced steep 145 percent tariffs on Chinese imports.
Describing the nature of the call, Trump spoke positively about Bezos. “He’s just a very nice guy,” Trump said. “We have a relationship. I asked him about [the tariff charge language Amazon considered including in listings]. He said, ‘Well, I don’t want to do that,’ and he took it off immediately.” According to Trump, Bezos agreed to remove the proposed listing changes after their conversation, demonstrating what Trump perceived as a productive dialogue.
Their current rapport stands in stark contrast to the more contentious dynamic they shared during Trump’s first term in office. Signs of a thawing relationship emerged in December when Amazon contributed $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund, and Bezos attended the inauguration ceremony. Though Bezos stepped down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021, he continues to serve as executive chairman of the company.
Shortly after the initial report by Punchbowl News about Amazon’s consideration of listing import charges, the company clarified its stance. An Amazon spokesperson told NBC News, “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.”
During the interview, moderator Kristen Welker asked Trump whether he would adopt a similar approach with CEOs of other major retail corporations. Trump’s response was unequivocal. “Sure. I’ll always call people if I disagree with them,” he said. He added, “If I think that somebody’s doing something that’s incorrect, wrong or maybe hurtful to the country, I’ll call. Wouldn’t you want me to call? [Former President Joe] Biden wouldn’t call because he didn’t know what was happening, but I do.”
Trump also used the interview as an opportunity to justify his administration’s imposition of heavy tariffs on Chinese imports. He emphasized that the objective of these tariffs is not to burden American consumers but to encourage companies to relocate their manufacturing and operations to the United States.
“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, a lot of things. I think it’s an incentive,” he told Welker. Trump further stated, “What people don’t understand is, and this is a lot, the country eats the tariff. The company eats the tariff. And it’s not passed along at all.”
Despite Trump’s assertion, other online retailers and consumer brands are beginning to take visible actions in response to the tariffs. Chinese-based budget retailer Temu has already begun including a line item labeled “import charges” on customer purchases. American retailers such as Béis, Bare Necessities, and Fashion Nova are also encouraging consumers to make purchases sooner rather than later, warning that new or increased tariffs may require them to raise prices.
Large corporations like PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble have echoed similar concerns. In recent meetings with shareholders, these companies noted that they are already feeling the financial effects of tariffs and cautioned about potential impacts on future earnings.
While acknowledging that tariffs may temporarily affect the availability of some consumer goods, Trump insisted the trade-offs are worthwhile. When Welker asked about his previous Cabinet meeting comments referencing children potentially having fewer toys, Trump elaborated on his perspective.
“I don’t think that a beautiful baby girl needs — that’s 11 years old — needs to have 30 dolls. I think they can have three dolls or four dolls, because what we were doing with China was just unbelievable,” Trump said. He used the example to illustrate what he believes is excessive consumerism fueled by cheap imports, suggesting that America’s reliance on low-cost goods from China should be reevaluated.
At that earlier Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump told his administration officials, “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.”
Although critics interpreted these comments as an admission that tariffs would lead to price hikes or supply limitations, Trump firmly rejected that interpretation during the NBC interview. “I’m just saying they don’t need to have 30 dolls. They can have three. They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have five,” Trump clarified. He added, “we don’t have to waste money on a trade deficit with China for things we don’t need, for junk that we don’t need.”
Throughout the interview, Trump remained confident that his tariff policies serve as a long-term economic strategy to reduce America’s trade deficit and revive domestic manufacturing. His call to Bezos, and willingness to speak directly with other top executives, represents a broader tactic he plans to employ as part of his economic approach.
In contrast to what he sees as a more passive stance taken by President Joe Biden, Trump positioned himself as an active participant willing to challenge business decisions that he believes could negatively impact the country. His comments suggest a future administration, if elected again, that would continue to intervene directly with major corporations, particularly on trade and pricing issues related to foreign policy.
By emphasizing self-reliance and questioning America’s dependence on imported goods, Trump aimed to reframe the tariff debate. Rather than focusing on short-term costs or consumer inconvenience, he urged Americans to see the broader benefits of economic nationalism and industrial independence.
The discussion underscores the extent to which trade policy and corporate cooperation remain integral to Trump’s political and economic agenda. Whether this approach will resonate with voters and corporate leaders alike remains to be seen, but the president has made clear that his focus on tariffs and domestic production will be a central theme moving forward.