Jeff Bezos says he's optimistic about Trump, will help administration reduce regulation
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos expressed strong support for Donald Trump's regulatory agenda during The New York Times' DealBook Summit on Wednesday, marking a notable shift in their previously contentious relationship.
"I am very optimistic that President Trump is serious about this regulatory agenda," Bezos stated at the summit. "If I can help him do that, I'm going to help him, because we do have too much regulation in this country."
The billionaire entrepreneur's endorsement represents a dramatic turnaround from Trump's first term, when the former president frequently criticized Bezos, Amazon, and The Washington Post over various issues including alleged tax avoidance and media bias.
Bezos also defended his recent controversial decision to prevent The Washington Post from endorsing a presidential candidate, which reportedly resulted in the newspaper losing approximately 10% of its subscribers. He maintained this was not an act of cowardice but rather an effort to preserve the paper's independence.
The Amazon founder joins other prominent tech leaders who have recently aligned themselves with Trump. Tesla's Elon Musk has pledged substantial financial support and is set to lead initiatives on government efficiency, while Meta's Mark Zuckerberg recently met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss technology policy.
Speaking about Trump's personal evolution, Bezos described the former president as "calmer, more confident and more settled" compared to his first term. He expressed interest in helping reshape Trump's perspective on media relations, stating his desire to convince Trump that "the press is not the enemy."
The timing of Bezos's support appears strategic, as his space company Blue Origin could potentially compete for federal contracts under a future Trump administration. This development reflects a broader pattern of increasing collaboration between major tech companies and government initiatives.