Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos defends decision not to endorse as newspaper loses subscribers

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is defending The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate as “principled” as the outlet bleeds more than 200,000 subscribers over the abrupt decision.

Mr. Bezos, who purchased The Post for $250 million in 2013, penned an op-ed saying an endorsement would not have influenced the election.

“No undecided voters in Pennsylvania are going to say, ’I’m going with Newspaper A’s endorsement.’ None,” he wrote. “What presidential endorsements actually do is create a perception of bias. A perception of non-independence. Ending them is a principled decision, and it’s the right one.”

Yet the damage might be done.

While The Post characterized its stance as a return to old traditions, the paper had regularly endorsed Democratic candidates over the last half-century and was expected to boost Vice President Kamala Harris over former President Donald Trump.

More than 200,000 digital subscribers, or about 8% of The Post’s customer base, canceled as of midday Monday, according to a National Public Radio report.

Skeptics of the abrupt move believe Mr. Bezos, a billionaire, is shying away from criticism of Mr. Trump because he fears retribution if the former president returns to power.

Mr. Bezos said he was upset to learn about a recent meeting between his space travel company, Blue Origin, and Mr. Trump. He knew the meeting would give critics ammunition to go after the non-endorsement.

“I would also like to be clear that no quid pro quo of any kind is at work here,” Mr. Bezos wrote. “Neither campaign nor candidate was consulted or informed at any level or in any way about this decision. It was made entirely internally.”

Mr. Bezos said the decision should have been made earlier, blaming “inadequate planning” for the announcement so close to the election.

Multiple members of The Post editorial board resigned, and other staff criticized the decision.

Former Post executive editor Marty Baron called the decision “cowardly” and said it would only invite bullying from Mr. Trump, who often criticizes Mr. Bezos and Amazon.