Yes. The Washington Post reported that owner Jeff Bezos made the decision to end the paper’s presidential endorsements in October 2024, before it published a planned endorsement of Kamala Harris. Publisher and CEO William Lewis announced the policy; the Post reported that Bezos made the underlying decision. The endorsement was drafted but had not been shared with the full editorial board, so it was not a final, board-approved endorsement.
What happened at The Washington Post?
On October 25, 2024, publisher and CEO William Lewis announced that The Washington Post would no longer endorse candidates for president. The paper’s contemporaneous report said staff had drafted an endorsement of Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and attributed the decision to Bezos, citing four people briefed on it. The Post later clarified that Bezos made the decision and Lewis announced it. The Post’s October 25 report is the source for that distinction.
The draft was closely held by opinion editor David Shipley. A follow-up report said he had not shared it with the full editorial board before Lewis’s announcement. It is therefore accurate to say a Harris endorsement had been drafted, but not that the full board had approved or finalized one. The Post’s October 28 follow-up describes the draft’s status.
Why did Bezos say the policy changed?
In an October 28 opinion piece, Bezos argued that presidential endorsements do not tip election results and can reinforce perceptions that a newspaper is biased or not independent. He said the change was intended to restore public trust. His claim that endorsements do not affect elections was his argument, not a measured finding established by the reporting.
#1 Best Overall
- STUNNING VISUALS: Gain a deeper understanding of stories through bold photos and immersive graphics.
- IN-DEPTH READING: Immerse yourself in a full story, where the focus is on storytelling enhanced by visual elements.
- STREAMLINED DESIGN: Enjoy an uncluttered reading experience and avoid being overloaded by constant news updates.
- AWARD-WINNING COVERAGE: Stay informed with quality national reporting and expertly curated articles.
- TWO DAILY EDITIONS: Receive two complete daily editions, plus important updates throughout the day.
Bezos also said he regretted making the change so close to Election Day: “I wish we had made the change earlier than we did, in a moment further from the election and the emotions around it.” The Post reported that he said neither campaign nor candidate had been consulted.
What did Bezos say about the Blue Origin meeting?
The endorsement announcement came on the same day that Blue Origin chief executive Dave Limp met with Donald Trump. Bezos said he had not known about the meeting in advance and denied that it was connected to the endorsement decision. He also denied a quid pro quo. These are Bezos’s stated denials; the cited reporting does not establish that the decision was made to benefit a business interest, coordinate with a campaign, or secure a favor.
How did Post journalists respond?
Former editors and editorial writers criticized the move. Former Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein said the decision, made 12 days before the election, ignored the paper’s reporting on the threat they believed Trump posed to democracy. The Washington Post Guild said that hearing the decision from the chief executive rather than the editorial board raised concern that management had interfered with editorial work. Those statements document criticism and concern; they do not independently prove an improper motive.
Three editorial board members stepped down from their board roles, while saying they intended to remain at the paper in other roles. The Post reported those departures on October 28.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Was this a break with The Post’s endorsement history?
It broke with the paper’s recent pattern, but not with its entire history. The Post reported that it began regularly endorsing presidential candidates in 1976, skipped an endorsement in 1988, and endorsed Democrats in each subsequent presidential election in which it made an endorsement. Lewis said the paper would continue making endorsements in other contests, including local races.
For the key distinction, the record is: Bezos was identified by The Post as the decision-maker; Lewis made the public announcement; the Harris endorsement had been drafted but was not shared with the full board; and Bezos’s trust rationale and denials should be attributed to him.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
