• The Washington Post’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate has sparked a backlash among staff.
• The newspaper reported that owner Jeff Bezos had called and an endorsement from Harris was scheduled.
• The news sparked fears of management interference and possible self-censorship in a close race.

The Washington Post editorial staff is up in arms after the newspaper reported that it would not support a presidential candidate for the first time in four decades and that owner Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, had made the decision.

Editor-in-chief Robert Kagan, who has warned in columns of a “Trump dictatorship,” has resigned, Semafor reported, and insiders predicted more would follow.

A member of the editorial staff, who spoke anonymously to protect his job, said the editorial staff had been in the dark about the decision until Friday.

“People are furious. It’s scary when a billionaire doesn’t have the courage to stand up to Donald Trump,” this person said.

“I’ve seen a lot of fear; people are angry,” said another Washington Post insider.

Publisher and CEO Will Lewis announced the decision in a Friday column, saying he wanted readers to make their own decision, aided by the paper’s “nonpartisan news” and “reported views from our opinion team.” He said the newspaper has refrained from endorsing candidates in the past.

Separately, the newspaper published a story citing anonymous sources as saying that newsroom staffers had already drafted a Harris endorsement that had yet to be published.

The newspaper’s editorial guild posted a statement saying Lewis’ decision raised concerns that management was interfering with editorial efforts and readers were canceling their subscriptions.

“This decision undermines the work of our members at a time when we need to build, not lose, the trust of our readers,” the union wrote.

Some people posted on X that they were canceling their subscriptions in response to the news.

Retired WaPo editor-in-chief Marty Baron also posted on X, calling the decision “cowardice, with democracy as the victim.”

A Washington Post spokesperson referred to Lewis’ statement and declined to comment on any follow-up questions. A representative for Bezos did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The decision has fueled fears that news outlets are censoring themselves out of fear of retribution from former President Donald Trump, who has publicly called for revenge on his enemies. The Los Angeles Times has endorsed statewide candidates but declined to endorse a presidential candidate this year, prompting the firing of three staff members.

The decision also reflects the challenges of running a media company in a deeply divided era where trust in the media is eroding.

The LA Times and the Washington Post, along with Time and The Boston Globe, are among a handful of news media outlets that have been acquired in recent years by billionaires who made their money in other areas. The recent endorsement controversies could derail a billionaire-as-newspaper-savior’s dream.

Bezos and Trump have had feuds over the years. The Post saw a surge in subscriptions as it pursued aggressive coverage of the Trump administration, launching the advertising slogan: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.” Trump has ridiculed Bezos and the Washington Post by calling him “Jeff Bozo.” But Bezos shared his words of support after the July shooting at a Trump rally.

Many CEOs have declined to speak publicly about the razor-thin presidential race. Top executives have historically taken the position that getting involved in politics can be bad for business because they otherwise alienate part of their customer base.

The approval shake-up is the latest for the paper and Lewis, who came under scrutiny when he replaced top editor Sally Buzbee — and then withdrew his choice for a replacement. Lewis has also faced questions about his past role in a British phone hacking scandal.