Jeff Bezos Ends Washington Post's 36-Year Tradition Of Endorsements, Leaving Staff 'Roiled'

The Washington Post, which is owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, is the latest newspaper to be caught up in controversy over not endorsing a political candidate in the 2024 presidential election.

The newspaper announced Friday it will not endorse a candidate in the race.

What Happened: The Washington Post, which was purchased by Bezos in 2013, said it will not endorse a candidate for the first time in 36 years and will not endorse candidates in future presidential races.

Washington Post publisher and CEO William Lewis made the official announcement Friday.

"We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates," Lewis said.

Lewis cited the paper's 1960 editorial board decision to stop endorsing candidates, describing it as a move toward being an "independent newspaper in the Nation's Capital."

"We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility."

Lewis said that's not the case and the newspaper has always stood for character and courage, the rule of law, and respect for human freedom. The newspaper publisher said the non-endorsement is a statement that supports readers being able to make up their own mind on the election.

"Our job at The Washington Post is to provide, through the newsroom, nonpartisan news for all Americans, and thought-provoking, reported views from our opinion team to help our readers make up their own minds."

A separate Washington Post article highlighted the announcement’s timing, occurring just 11 days before the 2024 election, which is described as too close to call. The report also noted that other newspapers have faced situations where owners blocked endorsements agreed upon by writers and editorial boards.

"An endorsement of Harris had been drafted by Post editorial page staffers but had yet to be published," the article reads.

The decision not to publish the endorsement of Kamala Harris was made by "The Post's owner – Amazon founder Jeff Bezos," sources told the Washington Post writer.

The article said the decision not to make an endorsement "has roiled many on the editorial staff, which operates independently from The Post's news staff."

Washington Post editor-at-large Robert Kagan, who has been critical of Trump in the past, resigned from the editorial board in response to the decision, according to NPR.

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Why It's Important: The Washington Post's decision not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 election follows a similar move by the Los Angeles Times, owned by billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong.

The Los Angeles Times had planned an endorsement of Harris that was blocked by Soon-Shiong. The decision led to backlash from readers and the resignation of editorials editor Mariel Garza.

Soon-Shiong said he wanted the editorial board to instead offer readers a side-by-side comparison of Donald Trump and Harris' policies.

Both Soon-Shiong, who is the Executive Chairman of Immunity Bio IBRX, and Bezos have interests in companies that the federal government could impact under whoever wins the 2024 election. Reports say both could be worried about endorsing Harris and being retaliated against if Trump wins.

On Friday, the New York Post, which is owned by News Corporation NWS, endorsed Trump for president.

The paper cited a secure border, low-tax economy, common-sense policies, safer cities, and a country feared by enemies globally as reasons for the endorsement of Trump.

"If history is any guide, the track records of the last two administrations provide a clearly comparable record," the paper wrote.

The paper calls Donald Trump "the right choice" for the 2024 election.

The newspaper company is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News, and has often been a supporter of Trump.

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