Washington Post won't endorse Trump or Harris this election -- first time in 36 years

The Washington Post editorial page has decided not to make a presidential endorsement this time, the first in 36 years and the decision will be announced by publisher Will Lewis in a note to readers online early Friday afternoon, reports said. The editorial page editor, David Shipley, told colleagues that the management told the editorial board that there would be no endorsement this year. The reason that has been cited is to "create independent space" where the newspaper does not tell people whom to vote.

Earlier it was reported that the paper was dragging its feet on the decision as owner Jeff Bezos is not willing to endorse Kamala Harris alienating Donald Trump. The decision to not endorse anyone confirms the dithering. A New York Post report earlier said that the editorial board of the Washington Post wrote its endorsement of Kamala Harris but received no approval from Bezos or Will Lewis to publish it.

The New York Times endorsed Kamala Harris on September 30, the New York Post announced its endorsement of Donald Trump on Thursday. Los Angeles Times too decided not to endorse any candidate which led to the resignation of the editorials editor and two editorial board members.

Washington Post routinely reported on the wrongdoings of Trump and the editorial board repeatedly declared that Trump's actions in office and his rhetoric as a candidate have rendered him unfit for office. In 2016, Washington Post endorsed Hillary Clinton and in 2020, they went with Joe Biden.

'Returning to our roots'

Washington Post publisher Will Lewis wrote a memo to staffers saying that the paper was returning to the roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.

"We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility."

That is inevitable. We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects.”