Billionaire Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, on Monday defended the newspaper’s decision to not endorse a presidential candidate, calling it “principled” and “the right one,” The Associated Press reports.
The decision, announced last Friday, has sparked backlash from journalists and readers, with some canceling their subscriptions and accusing Bezos of bowing to business interests.
Bezos, in a public statement, argued that editorial endorsements create a perception of bias and do nothing to sway the outcome of elections, especially in an era where many Americans distrust the media. He also acknowledged that the timing of the decision, so close to the election, was not ideal.
The decision has caused a significant uproar, with NPR reporting that over 200,000 subscribers have canceled their accounts. The Post has lost two columnists and three members of its editorial board who resigned in protest. Former Post editor Martin Baron publicly criticized the decision as “cowardice.”
Some critics have suggested that Bezos, also the owner of Amazon, made the decision to protect his business interests, fearing retaliation from a potential Donald Trump presidency. The Post has been critical of Trump in its coverage, endorsing his Democratic rivals in both 2016 and 2020.
Bezos vehemently denied any link between his business interests and the decision, challenging critics to point to any instance where he has influenced the Post to benefit himself. He also acknowledged a meeting between the CEO of his space-exploration company, Blue Origin, and Trump on the same day the non-endorsement was announced, but claimed he was unaware of the meeting beforehand.
Bezos’ statement aimed to reassure readers that his decision was driven by principles, not personal gain. He asserted that while he will not impose his own views on the Post, he will ensure the newspaper remains relevant and avoids becoming complacent.
