Jeff Bezos’ Promise to The Washington Post Proved Empty
In 2013, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos assured the paper’s journalists that he would stand firm against presidential threats. However, his courage faltered as Trump returned to office.
For over a decade, Bezos handled his ownership of The Washington Post admirably. Nevertheless, when confronted with challenges from President Donald Trump and his appointees, he failed to live up to his initial promise.
Bezos’ predecessor, Katharine Graham, had faced similar threats during the Watergate era. In August 2013, Bezos wrote to the paper’s anxious journalists, stating that if they were threatened like Graham was, “I’ll be ready.” However, it appears he didn’t deliver on his word.
As Trump returned to office, The Washington Post has continued to uphold its reputation for investigative reporting. Unfortunately, Bezos’ handling of the situation has been disappointing. He has failed to provide a bulwark against Trump’s most transgressive impulses, inflicting damage on the newspaper’s reputation in recent months.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/03/bezos-appease-trump-administration/681899