Jeff Bezos Aims to Persuade Trump That the Media Is Not the ‘Enemy’
Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos expressed optimism about a potential second Trump administration, saying he hopes to convince Donald Trump to drop his antagonistic stance toward the press. Speaking at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit on December 4, 2024, Bezos stated his intention to challenge Trump’s longstanding claim that journalists are the “enemy”.
Bezos’ Optimism Toward a Second Trump Term
During his conversation with Andrew Ross Sorkin, Bezos said:
“I don’t think the press is the enemy. The press is not the enemy—let’s go persuade him of this.”
Despite Trump’s previous criticism of Bezos and The Washington Post, the billionaire entrepreneur shared a hopeful outlook for Trump’s second term, emphasizing his support for deregulation.
“I am very optimistic this time around. 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,” Bezos remarked.
A History of Clashes Between Trump and Bezos
Throughout Trump’s first term, he frequently attacked Bezos and Amazon, accusing the company of not paying enough taxes. He also labeled The Washington Post as “The Fake News Washington Post”, calling it Amazon’s “chief lobbyist”. Furthermore, Trump’s administration blocked Amazon’s $10 billion Pentagon cloud contract, widely perceived as politically motivated retaliation.
On Wednesday, Bezos acknowledged the changes in both himself and Trump over the past eight years, stating:
“You’ve probably grown in the last eight years. He has, too.”
Bezos Defends The Washington Post’s Controversial Decision
Bezos also addressed his decision to halt presidential endorsements at The Washington Post—just two weeks before Election Day. This move sparked significant backlash, leading to:
- The resignation of nearly one-third of the editorial board.
- 250,000 subscriber cancellations.
- Accusations of “anticipatory obedience” to Trump’s administration.
Defending his decision, Bezos said:
“I’m proud of the decision we made, and it was far from cowardly.”
He also emphasized the importance of restoring trust in journalism, arguing that the perceived bias of endorsements wasn’t worth the trade-off.
Is Bezos Protecting Amazon and Blue Origin?
Some critics speculated that Bezos’ move to distance The Washington Post from political endorsements might be an attempt to protect his business interests, including Amazon and Blue Origin. However, Bezos dismissed this idea, asserting:
“That was certainly not in my mind.”
A Strategy to Revive The Washington Post
Despite facing declining subscriptions and traffic, Bezos revealed he has plans to revitalize the struggling newspaper:
“I have a bunch of ideas, and I’m working on that right now. And I have a couple of small inventions there. So we’ll see.”
Tech Leaders Are Rebuilding Relationships With Trump
Bezos’ comments come amid a broader trend of tech executives seeking to reconnect with Trump. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is reportedly pursuing a more active role in policy discussions, while Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai acknowledged Trump’s focus on American competitiveness in AI and technology.
Elon Musk’s Influence and Bezos’ Perspective
When asked about Elon Musk’s relationship with Trump, Bezos appeared unbothered, saying he takes Musk’s political commitments at face value. Musk’s companies, SpaceX and xAI, compete directly with Bezos’ Blue Origin and Amazon’s AI efforts.
What’s Next?
As Trump’s second term approaches, Bezos appears ready to engage with the administration while navigating the challenges facing both his media empire and corporate ventures. His efforts to reshape The Washington Post, advocate for deregulation, and influence Trump’s stance on the media could define his role in the evolving political and business landscape.
Source: CNN News
