Updates to our Terms of Use

We are updating our Terms of Use. Please carefully review the updated Terms before proceeding to our website.

Friday, March 29, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Trump Blasts Post Office, Amazon Over Shipping Rates

President Donald Trump took aim at the U.S. Postal Service Friday, saying the agency is "losing many billions of dollars a year" and asking why it is "charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages."

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump took aim at the U.S. Postal Service Friday, saying the agency is "losing many billions of dollars a year" and asking why it is "charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages."

Trump tweeted Friday that the post office "should be charging MUCH MORE!"

The post office has lost money for 11 straight years, mostly because of pension and health care costs. While online shopping has led to growth in its package-delivery business, that hasn't offset declines in first-class mail.

Shares of Amazon surpassed $1,000 each for the first time in April, and have continued to rise.

Federal regulators moved recently to allow bigger jumps to stamp prices beyond the rate of inflation, which could eventually increase companies' shipping rates.

The dig at Amazon, however, was just the latest in a string by Trump.

Amazon was founded by Jeff Bezos, who also owns the Washington Post.

Trump has been highly critical of the media, and singled out the Post and Bezos for its coverage of his campaign and presidency.

Seconds after the Trump tweet, shares of Amazon.com went from positive to negative.

Shipping is a major cost for the online retailer, though a large percentage of Amazon packages are delivered by UPS.

Categories / Business, Government, Media, National, Politics

Subscribe to Closing Arguments

Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.

Loading...