Why Did The Washington Post Skip Endorsing a Presidential Candidate?

The Washington Post, a long-standing tradition of endorsing presidential candidates, decided to break from this practice in the 2024 election. This sudden change sparked criticism and curiosity among the public. The paper’s owner, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, was reportedly behind the decision to not publish an endorsement for Democratic nominee Kamala Harris or Republican nominee Donald Trump. Bezos has had a turbulent relationship with Trump, with Amazon alleging Trump’s improper influence in losing a major government contract. The Post has historically supported Democratic candidates since 1976, with the exception of the 1988 race.

The paper’s chief executive, Will Lewis, explained that they are returning to their roots of not endorsing, emphasizing character, courage, and respect for the rule of law in leadership. This decision comes amidst similar moves by other billionaire-owned newspapers, like The Los Angeles Times, which also refrained from endorsing in the current election. Critics see this as a sign of intimidation from Trump, with former editor Marty Baron labeling it as "cowardice" against democracy.

Actions