Former Bush aide: Trump's war on Amazon is 'banana republic behavior'
MSNBC analyst Elise Jordan has seen Middle Eastern corruption up close and compared it to Trump’s, slamming him for ‘banana republic behavior.’

Trump’s attempt to pressure the postmaster general to raise rates on Amazon is “banana republic behavior,” according to MSNBC analyst Elise Jordan during an appearance on Morning Joe.
Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos owns the Washington Post, and the company has been in Trump’s crosshairs as the paper reports on Trump’s failures, his scandalous administration, and his overall unsuitability for office.
Jordan, who worked in the State Department and on the National Security Council during the Iraq War, compared Trump’s behavior to the “corruption and rule of law issues” she witnessed while working in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Look at what we have going on at home now,” Jordan said, “It is just really jaw-dropping that the president of the United States is literally using his power to try to intervene to harm a personal enemy and happens to be a personal enemy with a very illustrious and important newspaper too.”
Trump personally tried to get U.S. Postmaster General Megan Brennan to double the rates it charges to Amazon for delivery of items. If the postal service follows through on Trump’s demands, it would cost Amazon billions of dollars.
Brennan explained to Trump that the service actually benefits from the huge amount of cargo Amazon sends through it to customers.
Despite the explanation, Trump recently signed an executive order mandating a review of the postal service’s finances, aimed at changing the way it works with Amazon and other businesses.
The Post reports that Trump has also “met with at least three groups of senior advisers to discuss Amazon’s business practices,” discussing the company’s taxes as well as the post office issue.
Trump has been complaining about Amazon and Bezos for months, in apparent retaliation for unflattering reporting from the Post.
The paper has extensively covered the corrupt Trump foundation, which was used as a slush fund for the family instead of as a charity. They have also repeatedly done reporting on his administration’s failures, like the hiring office that has become something of a frat house hangout.
Reacting to that story, Trump whined that the paper has been “used as a lobbyist and should so REGISTER.” As he often describes news reports that expose his corruption or incompetence, Trump calls the Post “fake news.”
Pressuring an arm of the government to punish the free press for accurately covering him is the latest manifestation of Trump’s authoritarian mindset. It makes him distinct from most of his predecessors, who all received bad press to one degree or another.
Other, more normal presidents disagreed with the press in strident but rational ways. Trump is trying to weaponize the government against those who expose him. It isn’t normal.
Recommended

Trump’s executive orders could delay tax refunds for millions of Americans
About 43% of adults depend on tax refunds to cover basic expenses.
By Jesse Valentine - February 12, 2025
RFK Jr. won’t commit to protecting Medicaid in Senate confirmation hearing
More than 72 million Americans receive health insurance through Medicaid.
By Jesse Valentine - January 30, 2025
Trump makes Republican senators squirm with January 6 pardons
Trump pardoned violent criminals, despite several Trump allies promising he wouldn’t.
By Jesse Valentine - January 23, 2025