Trump Rips Into Amazon 'Scam' Again

Says Bezos' company is bilking the USPS out of billions, 'must pay real costs (and taxes) now!'
By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 1, 2018 6:44 AM CDT
Trump Rips Into Amazon 'Scam' Again
In this Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, file photo, President Trump speaks at the White House. Trump is renewing his attacks on Amazon, and he says the company is "doing great damage to tax paying retailers."   (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

President Trump trotted out a familiar whipping boy on Saturday, tweeting that Amazon was screwing over none other than the United States Postal Service. "The U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon," he tweeted, adding that "That amounts to Billions of Dollars." Trump says the USPS should jack its parcel rates, hitting Amazon with a $2.6 billion hike. "This Post Office scam must stop. Amazon must pay real costs (and taxes) now!" he tweeted. Trump's criticism has hit Amazon in the wallet, notes CNBC, with its stock taking a 6% slide in the last five trading days.

Trump also took a swipe at another favorite Jeff Bezos-owned punching bag: The Washington Post, which he says "is used as a 'lobbyist' and should so REGISTER." The AP fact-checks Trump's claims and finds that "Trump is misrepresenting Amazon's record on taxes, the U.S. Postal Service's financial situation and the contract that has the post office deliver some Amazon orders. Federal regulators have found that contract to be profitable for the Postal Service." Though it acknowledges that a 2017 study found that USPS parcel rates were below market rates. (More President Trump stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X