(DailyChive.com) – In a surprising move, The Washington Post announced it would not endorse Vice President Kamala Harris or any other candidate for president this election cycle. This is the first time in 36 years the paper has chosen not to endorse a candidate, marking a notable change from its usual practice.
The decision reportedly involves Jeff Bezos, the owner of The Washington Post and one of the wealthiest people in the world. Bezos allegedly made the call after seeing early polling numbers that hint at a close race, possibly favoring former President Donald Trump. With Bezos holding multiple government contracts, some are speculating that he may not want the paper directly opposing the leading candidates. However, none of this has been confirmed officially by the newspaper.
NPR’s media correspondent David Folkenflik shared insights about the situation, noting the decision left many staff members at the paper “shocked and unsettled.” According to Folkenflik, David Shipley, who edits The Post’s editorial page, said in a meeting that the newspaper’s leaders wanted to give readers “independent space” and avoid telling people how to vote. In other words, they wanted to step back and let the public make its own decision without any influence from the paper.
Some staff members expressed frustration and disappointment about this stance. Normally, endorsements are a chance for The Post to take a stand, and this break from tradition left many on the team feeling unsure. Even more intriguing, the decision reportedly came after a tense meeting among high-ranking staff, hinting that not everyone was on board with the idea.
Folkenflik’s reporting on X (formerly Twitter) further claimed that Bezos had picked Will Lewis, the paper’s publisher and CEO, partly because of his experience with conservative leaders. Lewis, previously a top editor at The Telegraph, a right-leaning British paper, has a history of working with conservative political circles. Some believe this background influenced The Post’s current approach, as the paper may be trying to appeal to a wider audience or avoid alienating any particular group.
While the editorial board hasn’t responded to inquiries for further clarification, Shipley is expected to publish a note explaining the choice soon. Until then, the lack of endorsement has certainly stirred up both internal and public debate over where The Washington Post stands in this high-stakes election.
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