WP's decision to remain neutral in US elections sparks outrage among readers and staff

The Washington Post (WP), one of America's leading newspapers, has encountered criticism and a wave of subscription cancellations after deciding not to endorse any candidate in the upcoming US presidential elections for the first time since 1988, Report informs via Russian media.

The newspaper itself has acknowledged that a movement to cancel subscriptions to WP is gaining momentum on social media. Disgruntled readers, journalists, and politicians are sharing screenshots confirming their subscription cancellations, accompanied by calls to "boycott" the newspaper. However, the publication did not specify the exact number of canceled subscriptions.

The decision, announced by the newspaper's managing director William Lewis on October 25, has also faced opposition from within the ranks of WP's own staff. A group of columnists penned an article characterizing the management's stance as a "rejection of the newspaper's fundamental editorial beliefs." They emphasized that in the lead-up to the presidential elections, the publication should publicly declare its "commitment to democratic values" and highlight the "threat posed to them by Republican candidate Donald Trump." In protest, two columnists have already resigned from the newspaper.

Lewis stated that The Washington Post would not promote any candidate in the upcoming and all future US presidential elections, claiming that the publication had decided to "return to its roots" by upholding the values of ethics, the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its forms.

The Washington Post first endorsed a presidential candidate in the 1952 election, supporting Republican Dwight Eisenhower. Since 1976, promoting candidates had become a regular practice, with 1988 being the only exception until 2024.