Jeff Bezos restricts Washington Post opinion section, another editor resigns

Jeff Bezos, now owner of the Washington Post and visibly pro-Trump, has announced a controversial reorientation of the Opinion section of the newspaper, now placing emphasis on individual freedoms and free market principles.

This decision had immediate repercussions within the newspaper, notably with the resignation of David Shipley, the editorial page editor, who stated that he did not recognize himself in this new editorial line.

This direct intervention by Bezos in the editorial line has sparked criticism, with some seeing it as an infringement on journalistic independence and a restriction of diversity of opinions. 

Recall that in October 2024, Jeff Bezos, owner of the Washington Post, prohibited the editorial team from announcing their support for Kamala Harris during the presidential election. 

This decision has been strongly criticized, seen by some as an infringement on journalistic independence and a maneuver to protect his commercial interests in the event of a potential victory by Donald Trump at the time.

Moreover, Bezos has recently gotten closer to President Donald Trump, being among the billionaires present at his inauguration. 

Bezos also financially contributed to the Republican presidential transition process by donating one million dollars.

In February 2025, the Washington Post experienced several notable resignations following the editorial reorientation initiated by Jeff Bezos. 

In addition to David Shipley, editor of the Opinion section, award-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes also left the newspaper in January 2025, after the censorship of one of her works criticizing Bezos. 

Additionally, according to Reuters, high-profile journalists such as Ashley Parker, Michael Scherer, Josh Dawsey and Tyler Pager have recently announced their departures to competing publications.

Overall, these events fuel the debate about the influence of media owners on editorial independence and the diversity of opinions in the press. These mass departures reflect a growing unease within the newsroom regarding journalistic independence and the strategic direction of the newspaper under Bezos’s ownership.