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Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post and the second wealthiest person globally, has drawn criticism from the newspaper’s staff due to its decision not to endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in 36 years. The editorial team had initially prepared an endorsement for Kamala Harris but did not publish it following Bezos’s decision to alter the newspaper’s endorsement policy.
This policy change occurs just weeks before the presidential election, in which Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump are reportedly in a close contest. There has been a history of tension between Trump and Bezos, with Amazon having filed a lawsuit in 2019 alleging it was unjustly denied a $10 billion defense contract due to pressure from Trump. Eventually, this contract was awarded to Microsoft.
Sir Will Lewis, Chief Executive of The Washington Post, explained in an opinion article the rationale for the policy change, acknowledging that it could be perceived as “an abdication of responsibility.” However, he stated the publication does not share that view.
The newspaper’s guild voiced concerns, suggesting management interfered with the editorial operations, resulting in a loss of subscribers. Seventeen columnists from the paper criticized the decision as a significant mistake, especially when one candidate reportedly threatens press freedom and constitutional values.
Renowned reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein also condemned the decision, referencing the paper’s extensive reporting on the perceived threats posed by Donald Trump. This marks the first instance since 1988 where the Post has refrained from endorsing a presidential candidate, although Lewis noted that the newspaper had not endorsed candidates in certain past elections, including those in 1960 and 1972.
Lewis was appointed by Bezos last year to address financial losses and shrinking readership. Known for maintaining regular communication with Bezos, he reportedly does not make significant decisions without Bezos’s input. Previously associated with News Corp and The Telegraph, Lewis ascended to the role of publisher at the Post in November 2023.
His recent decisions, including staff changes, drew criticism from journalists at the Post and led to scrutiny over his past involvement in a phone hacking scandal while at Rupert Murdoch’s media group.
This internal upheaval coincided with the New York Post, owned by Murdoch, endorsing Donald Trump with a prominent front-page headline. Trump had previously urged Murdoch via Fox & Friends to refrain from airing negative commercials against him.
Murdoch’s relationship with Trump has been rocky, further underscored by texts revealed in a lawsuit against Fox News, where Murdoch described Trump’s claims about the 2020 election as harmful. Murdoch subsequently settled this lawsuit.
The Washington Post’s pivot away from endorsements is mirrored by the Los Angeles Times, where owner Patrick Soon-Shiong blocked an endorsement of Harris, leading to the resignation of Mariel Garza, the paper’s editorials editor.
According to the Associated Press, following the Washington Post’s endorsement decision, Trump met with executives from Bezos’s space company, Blue Origin, which holds a $3.4 billion NASA contract for a spacecraft project.