Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon and owner of The Washington Post, expressed optimism about Donald Trump's second term during his speech at the DealBook Summit. He also delivered a direct message to the elected president: "The press is not the enemy."
Bezos, who has had a tense relationship with Trump in the past, surprised many by expressing enthusiasm for the potential reforms planned by the upcoming Republican administration.
"I am very optimistic this time," said Bezos on stage at the event organized by The New York Times.
"It seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulations. If I can help make that happen, I will assist him," he added.
The billionaire expressed his concern about what he sees as an excessive number of regulations in the United States.
"We have too many regulations in this country," he stated, making it clear that Trump's deregulatory policies could benefit the economy and, consequently, companies like Amazon.
Message to Trump: "The press is not the enemy"
During the interview, Bezos tried to distance himself from the previous tensions between Trump and The Washington Post.
In the past, the now elected president repeatedly accused the newspaper of spreading fake news and maintaining a bias against his administration.
In a conciliatory tone, Bezos stated: “I will try to convince him not to think of the press as the enemy.”
He also suggested that both sides may have evolved after years of confrontation. "You have probably grown over the last eight years. He has too. This is not the case. The press is not the enemy," Bezos emphasized.
Another notable point from the interview was Bezos's relationship with Elon Musk, owner of SpaceX and responsible for key projects for the upcoming administration.
Bezos, owner of Blue Origin, a direct competitor of SpaceX, stated that he does not expect Musk to use his influence to harm other players in the industry.
"I do not expect Elon to abuse his power. I hope he remains fair," he commented.
The tensions between Trump and Bezos.
The relationship between the two magnates has historically been complicated.
During his first term, Trump accused Amazon of "paying little or no taxes to state and local governments" and of using the U.S. postal system as a delivery service, resulting in "huge losses."
Additionally, the conflict escalated when Amazon lost a $10 billion contract with the Pentagon, which the company attributed to alleged presidential bias.
Bezos sought to reduce hostilities by preventing The Washington Post from endorsing candidates during the 2020 presidential elections, breaking a tradition of the newspaper that had been in place since 1976.
According to an opinion piece, editorial endorsements "create a perception of bias at a time when many Americans do not trust the media."
Silicon Valley and the Trump Administration
Bezos's optimism is not isolated.
Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, has also shown signs of reaching out to the elected president.
Recently, Meta acknowledged that it had "perhaps gone a bit too far" in content moderation during the pandemic, which has been interpreted as a gesture towards Trump, who has accused the company of censoring conservative voices.
Zuckerberg even met with Trump and his team at Mar-a-Lago on November 27, in a meeting that his spokesperson described as "an important moment for the future of American innovation."
Frequently asked questions about Jeff Bezos's relationship with the Trump administration.
What is Jeff Bezos's opinion on Donald Trump's new mandate?
Jeff Bezos has expressed optimism about Trump’s new term, highlighting his interest in the potential deregulatory reforms that the Republican government might implement. Bezos has voiced his concerns about the excessive regulations in the United States and believes that Trump’s policies could benefit the economy and companies like Amazon.
What has the relationship between Jeff Bezos and Donald Trump been like in the past?
The relationship between Bezos and Trump has historically been complicated, marked by tensions. Trump has accused Amazon of paying too little in taxes and of using the U.S. postal system to gain profits. Additionally, he has had conflicts with The Washington Post, owned by Bezos, accusing it of spreading fake news against his administration.
What message did Jeff Bezos send to Donald Trump regarding the press?
Jeff Bezos sent a conciliatory message to Trump, emphasizing that "the press is not the enemy." Bezos attempted to distance himself from the previous tensions between Trump and The Washington Post and suggested that both parties may have evolved after years of confrontation.
What is the relationship between Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in the context of the new Trump administration?
Bezos and Musk are direct competitors in the aerospace sector, with Blue Origin and SpaceX respectively. Bezos does not expect Musk, who has shown support for Trump, to use his influence to harm other players in the industry. Bezos hopes Musk will act fairly in his dealings.
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