By outdoor-nature-child.com In a recent development that has drawn significant attention, executives from Blue Origin had a brief meeting with Donald Trump on the same day that the Washington Post halted its editorial team’s endorsement of his opponent in the upcoming presidential election. This unexpected timing has sparked controversy surrounding Jeff Bezos, the multi-billionaire owner of the Post.
Reports indicate that senior leaders from the Washington Post traveled to Miami in late September 2024 to discuss concerns with Bezos regarding issuing an endorsement for the November 5 election. Despite the editorial board having already drafted an endorsement for Kamala Harris, the Post announced its decision not to endorse any candidate just before the meeting with Trump occurred.
While the announcement didn’t reference Amazon or Blue Origin, the aftermath was revealing: soon after Trump’s campaign speech in Austin, Texas, Blue Origin’s CEO David Limp and VP of government relations Megan Mitchell met with the Republican nominee. Additionally, Andy Jassy, the CEO of Amazon, reportedly sought a phone conversation with Trump.
This sequence of events prompted sharp criticism from Robert Kagan, the Washington Post’s editor-at-large and a long-time columnist, who resigned in protest the same day. Kagan expressed the belief that had the Post gone forward with their endorsement of Harris, the meeting with Trump would not have occurred. “Trump waited to ensure Bezos did what he said he would, and then met with the Blue Origin people,” Kagan told the Daily Beast, implying that there was a quid pro quo arrangement between Bezos and Trump.
Will Lewis, the publisher of the Post hired by Bezos in January, defended the decision by stating that the call to halt the endorsement came from Bezos himself. However, this explanation has done little to quell criticism from both within the organization and among its readership, leading to a wave of subscription cancellations. Eighteen opinion columnists from the Post signed a dissenting column condemning the decision, deeming it “a terrible mistake.”
Historically, the Post has taken a strong stance against Trump, endorsing Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Joe Biden in 2020. Current and former employees of the Post have voiced their concerns that Trump’s presidency poses significant threats to democracy, especially given his open admiration for authoritarianism. Notable former journalists like Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward labeled the decision “disappointing” as the election nears, while ex-executive editor Marty Baron criticized it as an act of “cowardice.”
This backlash has led prominent readers, including bestselling author Stephen King and former Congresswoman Liz Cheney, to cancel their subscriptions in protest. Observers have noted that the Post’s recent actions align with a broader pattern of “anticipatory obedience” to authoritarian figures, as described in Tim Snyder’s book, “On Tyranny.”
Bezos, the second richest individual globally after Elon Musk, purchased the Washington Post for $250 million in 2013. Following his resignation as Amazon’s CEO in 2021, he had professed intentions to devote more time to Blue Origin. However, reports from 2023 indicate he had become increasingly involved with the Post amid financial difficulties and morale issues, raising concerns about his influence over journalistic integrity. In a memo to newsroom leadership in June 2024, Bezos asserted, “The journalistic standards and ethics at the Post will not change.”