Associated media – Related media
In a significant shift from tradition, The Washington Post announced it will abstain from endorsing any candidate in the upcoming presidential election. This decision marks a departure from decades of practice and has sparked immediate controversy.
An article released Friday detailed that editorial staff had initially prepared to endorse Democratic nominee Kamala Harris over Republican nominee Donald Trump. However, the decision to withhold the endorsement was reportedly made by Jeff Bezos, the owner of the newspaper and founder of Amazon.
During his presidency, Trump was vocally critical of both Bezos and The Post. Notably, Amazon claimed in a 2019 lawsuit that it lost a $10 billion Pentagon contract to Microsoft due to Trump’s alleged interference against Bezos.
Historically, The Post has consistently endorsed candidates since 1976, except for the 1988 election, typically favoring Democrats.
Will Lewis, The Washington Post’s Postmaster General, explained online that the publication will abstain from endorsing candidates in future presidential races as well. He emphasized a return to the paper’s foundational principles, focusing on integrity and fairness rather than political endorsements.
The decision follows closely on the heels of a similar move by the Los Angeles Times, where the editorial board’s leader resigned after the owner’s decision to forego a presidential endorsement.
Marty Baron, former editor of The Post, criticized the decision on social media, describing it as a failure to uphold democratic values. He suggested that this move could embolden Trump to further pressure Bezos and others in the media industry.
The Washington Post Guild, representing the newspaper’s staff, expressed concerns that management’s decision might undermine the editorial team’s autonomy and potentially erode reader trust, especially as the election approaches.
The announcement has already led to subscription cancellations from some long-time readers, reflecting the contentious nature of the decision during a pivotal election period.
Associated media – Linked media
