In a surprising post-election statement, Amazon founder and chairman Jeff Bezos publicly congratulated Donald Trump on his successful re-election bid. On Wednesday, Bezos took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Trump’s return to the presidency, calling it an “extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory.” The former president’s win marks his return to the White House, now as the 47th President of the United States.
“Big congratulations to our 45th and now 47th President on an extraordinary political comeback and decisive victory. No nation has bigger opportunities,” Bezos wrote. He continued, “Wishing (Donald Trump) all success in leading and uniting the America we all love.”
Bezos’ remarks come at a complex time for the billionaire, who also owns The Washington Post. Just last week, Bezos faced backlash for blocking the paper’s endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris, citing concerns over potential bias. This move has drawn criticism from both readers and staff, with some seeing it as a conflict of interest due to Bezos’ diverse business portfolio, including Amazon and Blue Origin. The decision led to widespread discontent among Post reporters and resulted in high-profile resignations, with nearly one-third of the editorial board stepping down and 250,000 subscriptions canceled.
Notably, Amazon’s stock saw an uptick on Wednesday morning, gaining nearly 3% in trading following the election results.
This congratulatory message from Bezos signals an unusual alignment between two influential figures in U.S. business and politics, both known for their high-profile public personas and unique approaches to leadership. Whether Bezos’ endorsement will affect public perception of his brands remains to be seen, but his remarks have already stirred debate across social media and news outlets.
