Amazon founder Jeff Bezos faces backlash over editorial decision amid Trump links

Late past month, elder editorial leaders from The Washington Post reportedly travelled to Miami to conscionable with Bezos, who had expressed reservations astir endorsing Harris successful the 5 November election.

On Friday, The Washington Post announced it would not endorse immoderate candidate, a determination that followed its drafting of an endorsement for Harris. Hours later, Blue Origin executives, including CEO David Limp and Vice President Megan Mitchell, reportedly met with Trump successful Austin, Texas, aft a run speech, arsenic reported by the Associated Press.

Amazon’s CEO, Andy Jassy, is besides reported to person precocious reached retired to Trump by phone, CNN reported. Blue Origin and Amazon, some owned by Bezos, person ongoing interests successful national contracts, heightening scrutiny astir these interactions.

Robert Kagan, a columnist and editor-at-large astatine The Washington Post, resigned connected Friday, condemning the paper’s non-endorsement. He aboriginal told The Daily Beast: “Trump waited to marque definite that Bezos did what helium said helium was going to bash – and past met with the Blue Origin people,” adding, “That tells america determination was a woody made, a quid pro quo of sorts.”

The Washington Post steadfast Will Lewis defended Bezos, claiming helium himself made the telephone to propulsion the endorsement. However, the determination was met with beardown absorption from wrong the paper. Eighteen sentiment writers signed a connection calling the determination “a unspeakable mistake,” and The Washington Post saw a question of subscription cancellations successful response, including those from salient readers similar writer Stephen King and erstwhile Congresswoman Liz Cheney.

Some erstwhile and existent Washington Post unit besides voiced their dismay. Veteran journalists Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward described the determination arsenic “disappointing,” portion erstwhile enforcement exertion Marty Baron tweeted: “This is cowardice with ideology arsenic its casualty.” The paper’s cartoon squad published a formless acheronian representation successful protest, a pointed notation to the slogan, “Democracy Dies successful Darkness.”

In a akin development, The Los Angeles Times, owned by billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, besides opted not to endorse Harris, drafting accusations of “anticipatory obedience” – a conception described successful Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny arsenic conceding powerfulness to an authoritarian fig adjacent earlier they tin request it.

Bezos, who acquired The Washington Post successful 2013, stepped down arsenic Amazon’s CEO successful 2021, stating his intent to absorption connected Blue Origin.

However, The New York Times noted that Bezos became much progressive with the insubstantial successful 2023 arsenic it faced important fiscal challenges. His assignment of Lewis arsenic steadfast successful January has done small to assistance morale, with The New York Times reporting allegations of past misconduct by Lewis during his journalism vocation successful London.

In a memo successful June, Bezos insisted, “The journalistic standards and morals astatine the Post volition not change.”