The Washington Post has announced it will not endorse any candidate in the upcoming US election, marking a significant shift in its long-standing tradition of supporting Democratic nominees. This decision has triggered the resignation of several editorial board members and led to the cancellation of 200,000 subscriptions. Critics, including media experts, speculate that owner Jeff Bezos may be attempting to appease Donald Trump. Similarly, the Los Angeles Times has also opted not to endorse, causing further unrest among staff and readers.
US Election 2024
For the first time in many years, a notable newspaper has chosen not to endorse a candidate in the upcoming US election, resulting in resignations among both editors and subscribers.
In the United States, it is a common practice for major newspapers to endorse a candidate for president, a tradition that the Washington Post has followed for decades. Historically, the publication has backed Democratic candidates, but this year marks a departure from that pattern as they refrain from endorsing Kamala Harris.
Media analyst Howard Kurtz, associated with Fox News, condemned this decision, labeling it a clear sign of cowardice. He pointed to Jeff Bezos, the newspaper’s owner and founder of Amazon, as the individual responsible for this shift in editorial policy, claiming it was his directive that led to the lack of endorsement.
With just one week remaining until the presidential election, recent polls indicate that Harris and Trump are nearly neck-and-neck, setting the stage for an unpredictable outcome.
Bezos and Relations with Trump
Interestingly, the Washington Post’s editorial board had initially crafted an endorsement for Harris. However, following the announcement to forgo publishing it, multiple board members resigned in protest of this decision.
Robert Kagan, one of the resigned editors, suggested in a CNN interview that Bezos might be attempting to appease Trump in anticipation of a potential victory for the former president. Kagan pointed out that Trump has previously hinted at repercussions for Bezos’ business interests, including Amazon and his space venture Blue Origin, which depends heavily on government contracts.
Subscription Cancellations on the Rise
William Lewis, the publisher of the Washington Post, disclosed plans to discontinue endorsements in future presidential elections, asserting that the paper is returning to its original mission.
However, the timing of this decision has raised eyebrows. Marty Baron, a former editor-in-chief of the publication, expressed skepticism on CNN, stating that a decision like this, made shortly before an election, especially when Trump appears to have a chance of winning, is extremely questionable.
The reaction from readers has been swift; reports indicate that 200,000 digital subscriptions to the Washington Post have been canceled since the announcement, translating to approximately eight percent of its paid circulation, according to NPR sources.
Bezos Addresses the Editorial Shift
With criticisms mounting, Jeff Bezos publicly addressed the situation, claiming that the decision was intended to bolster the credibility of the editorial team rather than serve his personal interests. In an online essay for the Washington Post, he mentioned that presidential endorsements can create an illusion of bias and defended the choice as being principled, though he acknowledged that the timing was poorly executed.
Nonetheless, many critics remain unimpressed by his justification, with Fox News commentator Kayleigh McEnany branding the decision an insult to Kamala Harris.
Los Angeles Times Also Abstains
The Washington Post is not alone; the Los Angeles Times has also surprised its readership by opting against endorsement. This decision came just days before the Washington Post announcement, choosing not to officially support Kamala Harris as well.
The reasoning for the Los Angeles Times’ decision was publicly attributed to political concerns regarding Harris’ stance on Israel by the daughter of the newspaper’s owner, biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong. However, Soon-Shiong himself refuted this explanation, leading to a wave of subscription cancellations and staff resignations at the Los Angeles Times too.