The Washington Post is not taking sides in the elections for the first time in 36 years

For the first time since 1988, the American newspaper The Washington Post does not openly support a presidential candidate. In an opinion piece, publisher Will Lewis says the newspaper is “going back to its roots”.

But journalists from the Washington Post anonymously say that this is a decision by the owner Jeff Bezos, who would have wanted to prevent support for the Democratic presidential candidate Harris.

The newspaper stayed out of elections for decades, until the Watergate scandal in the 1970s in which high-ranking members of the Republican Party were involved in the burglary of the Democratic Party headquarters in Washington and planted listening devices. there, which ultimately led to his resignation. President Nixon. In 1976, the newspaper openly expressed support for Democratic candidate and subsequent president Jimmy Carter.

In the subsequent elections, the newspaper continued to openly express support for various candidates in opinion pieces, except for 1988. During the battle between Republican George Bush Sr. against Democrat Michael Dukakis, the newspaper did not endorse either candidate.

The newspaper usually shows support for Democratic candidates, such as for Joe Biden in 2020. That would happen this election as well, employees say anonymously in a piece in their own newspaper. An article in support of Harris had already been prepared, but was not allowed to be published. That decision came from the owner of the newspaper, multi-billionaire Jeff Bezos.

The newspaper’s former editor Martin Baron says it is “hypocrisy”. The decision will also lead to tension within the editorial team. Critics fear the distrust is a result of previous threats from Trump, who has said he will retaliate against the critical media.

It would also have to do with the fact that Bezos and Lewis maintain ties with prominent conservative people and the Republican party.

According to publisher Lewis, this is not a tactical move. “This is consistent with The Post’s values ​​and what the newspaper has always stood for.”

Earlier this week, the Los Angeles Times also wanted to show support for candidate Harris in an opinion piece. The owner of that newspaper, biotech magnate and billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, also retracted the piece. The editor-in-chief then decided to resign.

Today, two more journalists from The Los Angeles announced their retirement. One of them, Robert Greene, said that he is “very disappointed” with the decision. “Especially because one of the candidates, Donald Trump, is hostile to the principles of journalism.”