The Washington Post's decision to not endorse any presidential candidates this year has sparked dissatisfaction within the paper.

On October 25, CEO William Lewis announced that the paper would no longer endorse any presidential candidates, returning to its original editorial stance. Since 1976, the Post has regularly endorsed Democratic candidates, making this the first time in 36 years it has abstained from doing so.

According to sources, the editorial board initially planned to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris. However, owner Jeff Bezos reportedly blocked this, leading to internal turmoil. Longtime columnist Robert Kagan resigned in protest, and two other editors left shortly after. Many staff members, including Kagan, speculated that Bezos’ decision was influenced by business interests, particularly his complex relationship with former President Donald Trump, who has threatened Bezos’ companies, including Amazon.

Bezos defended the decision, arguing that endorsing a candidate could appear biased, especially as public trust in the media declines. However, the timing—just days before the election—raised suspicion among staff. Critics, including former editor Marty Baron, suggested Bezos' business interests may have influenced the decision.

Amid this, over 200,000 subscribers reportedly canceled their subscriptions, adding financial strain to the Post. Similar moves by other major papers, such as the Los Angeles Times, have intensified the controversy, with Trump's campaign using these developments to criticize Democratic candidates.

In a public statement, Bezos denied ever pressuring the paper for his business interests and reaffirmed his principles since acquiring the Post in 2013.