Speaking at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos expressed optimism about the incoming Trump administration, despite the contentious relationship between the two during Trump’s first term. Bezos shared his thoughts on press freedom, his role as a media owner, and the challenges facing The Washington Post.
Press Freedom and Optimism for Trump’s Second Term
Bezos voiced hope that the Trump administration might adopt a more favorable stance toward the press. “I don’t think the press is the enemy,” he told Andrew Ross Sorkin, adding that he intends to “try to talk [Trump] out of” that belief.
Despite Trump’s previous attacks on Bezos and his companies, including Amazon and The Washington Post, Bezos appeared optimistic, saying, “He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation, and if I can help him do that, I am going to help him.”
Trump’s Contentious History with Bezos
During Trump’s first term, he frequently criticized Bezos and Amazon, accusing the company of tax evasion and calling The Post “The Fake News Washington Post.” Trump also blocked Amazon’s $10 billion Pentagon cloud computing contract, which many viewed as retaliation for critical reporting by The Post.
Reflecting on the evolution of their relationship, Bezos remarked, “You’ve probably grown in the last eight years. He has, too.”
The Decision to End Presidential Endorsements
Bezos defended his recent decision to end The Post’s practice of endorsing presidential candidates, a move that sparked backlash from reporters and readers. The announcement, made just weeks before Election Day, led to the resignation of one-third of the editorial board and 250,000 subscription cancellations.
“We knew this was going to be perceived in a very big way,” Bezos acknowledged, citing a need for The Post to remain a “credible, trusted, independent voice.” He emphasized that the decision was not influenced by concerns about potential retribution from Trump.
Challenges at The Washington Post
The Washington Post has faced declining audience traffic and subscription numbers in recent years. Bezos hinted at plans to revitalize the newspaper, saying, “I have a bunch of ideas, and I’m working on that right now. I have a couple of small inventions there.”
Navigating Tech and Politics
Bezos’ comments come amid broader efforts by tech executives to engage with the Trump administration. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai have both expressed interest in policy discussions, particularly around technology and AI.
Asked about Elon Musk, whose companies SpaceX and xAI compete with Blue Origin and Amazon’s AI initiatives, Bezos said he takes Musk’s commitments at “face value” and is not concerned about political favoritism impacting their rivalry.
The Road Ahead
As Bezos navigates his dual roles as a media owner and tech leader, his comments underscore the challenges of balancing corporate interests with journalistic independence. His willingness to engage with Trump signals a pragmatic approach to leadership during a period of political and economic uncertainty.