- The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate has sparked a backlash from staff.
- The newspaper reported that owner Jeff Bezos made the call and that an endorsement of Harris was planned.
- The news sparked fears of management interference and possible self-censorship in a tight race.
The Washington Post editorial board is in revolt after the paper reported that it would not endorse a presidential candidate for the first time in 40 years and that its owner Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, made the decision.
Editor-at-Large Robert Kagan, who has warned in columns of a “Trump Dictatorship,” has resigned, Semaphore reported, and insiders predicted more would follow.
A member of the opinion department, speaking anonymously to protect their work, said the editorial board was in the dark about the decision until Friday.
“People are furious. It’s scary when a billionaire doesn’t have the nerve to stand up to Donald Trump,” this person said.
“I’ve seen a lot of anxiety; people are upset,” another Washington Post insider said.
Publisher and CEO Will Lewis announced the decision in a Friday column, saying he wanted readers to make up their own minds, helped by the paper’s “nonpartisan news” and “viewpoints reported by our opinion team.” He said the newspaper has refrained from endorsing candidates in the past.
Separately, the newspaper published a story citing anonymous sources saying that editorial staff had already drafted an endorsement of Harris that had not yet been released.
The newspaper’s editorial board posted a statement saying Lewis’ decision raised concerns that management was interfering with the editorial department and readers were canceling their subscriptions.
“This decision undermines the work of our members at a time when we need to build the trust of our readers, not lose it,” the union wrote.
Several people posted on X that they canceled their subscriptions in response to the news.
Retired WaPo executive editor Marty Baron also tweeted on X, calling the decision “cowardly, with democracy as the victim.”
A Washington Post spokesman referred to Lewis’ statement and declined to comment on any follow-up questions. A representative for Bezos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The decision has sparked fears that the media is censoring itself for fear of retaliation from former President Donald Trump, who has publicly called for retaliation against his enemies. The Los Angeles Times endorsed national candidates but declined to endorse a presidential candidate this year, prompting the resignation of three staffers.
The decision also reflects the challenges of operating a media company in a deeply divided era where trust in the media is eroding.
The LA Times and Washington Post are among a handful of media outlets, besides Time and The Boston Globe, that have been bought in recent years by billionaires who made their money in other fields. Recent endorsement controversies may throw some cold water on the billionaire-as-newspaper-savior dream.
Bezos and Trump have feuded over the years. The Post saw subscriptions grow as it pursued aggressive reporting on the Trump administration and launched the ad tagline, “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” Trump has mocked Bezos and the Washington Post, calling him “Jeff Bozo.” But Bezos shared words of support after the July shooting at a Trump rally.
Many CEOs have refused to speak publicly about the presidential race. Senior executives have historically held the view that getting into politics can be bad for business, lest they alienate a portion of their customer base.
The endorsement reversal is the latest for the paper and Lewis, who faced scrutiny when he replaced editor-in-chief Sally Buzbee — and then had his choice of replacement withdrawn. Lewis has also faced questions about his past role in a UK phone hacking scandal.