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The Washington Post editor Robert Kagan, an outspoken opponent of Donald Trump, resigned after Jeff Bezos didn't let the publication do a political endorsement for a Presidential candidate. As per Times Now News, publisher William Lewis broke the news.
The Post's Guild also disclosed that there was reportedly a planned endorsement for Democrat candidate Kamala Harris, which was finally canceled. The Washington Post editor's resignation has further caused a stir in the community.
Robert Kagan, the author of Rebellion: How Anti-liberalism is Tearing America Apart — Again, has been critical of US foreign policy and advocated liberal internationalism. The 66-year-old columnist was born in September 1958 in Athens, Greece.
In 1980, Kagan received his BA degree in history from Yale University. He was also the editor-in-chief of Yale Political Monthly in 1979, a year before he graduated. Kagan later attended Harvard's Kennedy School of Government and got his Master of Public Policy degree.
The columnist finished his PhD from American University in American history. Apart from being the editor of the Washington Post, he is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Policy Board, US Department of State.
As mentioned, Kagan had been a firm critic of Trump. He even criticized the ex-President's stance on Ukraine. According to Kagan, Trump's policies might be detrimental to American democracy, as mentioned in a Times Now News report.
11 Washington Post columnists criticized the decision not to endorse a Presidential candidate
While Robert Kagan resigned from the editorial position of the popular publication, he wasn't the only one to condemn the decision of no Presidential endorsement this year. A group of 11 columnists signed an article disapproving of the decision.
This decision would mark the first time in 36 years that The Washington Post has not made an endorsement before the Presidential Elections. In a column published on Friday, publisher William Lewis claimed the outlet was trying to return to its grassroots norm of not endorsing any Presidential candidate.
In the online announcement, Lewis wrote:
"The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election. We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates."
It is important to note that the policy of not endorsing isn't restricted to this year but applies to future Presidential elections. As reported by Semafor, a member of the editorial board said that several "people are shocked, furious, surprised." The member further mentioned:
"If you don't have the balls to own a newspaper, don't."
Semafor further reported that a draft for Kamala Harris' endorsement was previously sent to Jeff Bezos earlier this month. The endorsement, however, has not been canceled after this decision.
The Washington Post is the oldest and largest publication in Washington, D.C. The news agency is now part of Nash Holdings, which is owned by Jeff Bezos.
