TMTPOST -- Since the Washington Post declared it would not endorse a candidate in the upcoming presidential election, more than 250,000 readers have canceled their subscriptions, the Washington-based newspaper reported late Tuesday.

The decision, announced by publisher Will Lewis last Friday, led to the loss of approximately 10% of the news organization's digital subscribers by Tuesday evening, according to internal documents and sources familiar with the situation. This figure does not include any new subscribers gained since the announcement or any who have re-subscribed.

Following Lewis's announcement, which marked a departure from the newspaper's long-standing tradition just weeks before Election Day, many readers expressed their dissatisfaction. High-profile figures and former staff members took to social media to announce their cancellations, setting off a wave of subscriber withdrawals within hours of the announcement.

Readers and former staff of The Washington Post, including ex-executive editor Marty Baron, have criticized the paper's recent decision as “craven” and “cowardly.” They view it as an attempt by billionaire owner Jeff Bezos to preemptively appease a potential second Trump administration.

According to a source familiar with the situation, the daily’s editorial board had drafted an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris before it was ultimately suppressed by Bezos.

At a campaign rally in North Carolina, former President Donald Trump capitalized on the lack of endorsements, suggesting it indicated that the publications preferred him over Harris.

“The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and all these papers aren’t endorsing anyone,” Trump said. “What they’re really saying is this Democrat’s no good, and they think I’m doing a great job.”

Earlier this week, as the Post experienced a significant drop in subscribers and three editorial board members resigned, Bezos attempted to address the backlash with a rare op-ed. He admitted that the timing of his decision had led to speculation about his intentions regarding Trump. “I wish we had made the change earlier, further from the election and its emotions,” Bezos wrote, calling it a failure in planning rather than a deliberate strategy.

He also acknowledged the “appearance of conflict” due to his ownership of Amazon and Blue Origin, which holds significant federal contracts, has complicated the Post’s position.

Recent conversations between Bezos and Trump have garnered attention, particularly after Trump survived an assassination attempt this summer. Bezos reportedly praised Trump for raising his fist in response to the attack.

On Friday, just hours after Lewis announced the decision against endorsements, Trump met with Blue Origin executives in Texas, intensifying the backlash.

In his op-ed, Bezos insisted he was not informed about the meeting in advance. “I want to be clear that no quid pro quo is involved here. Neither campaign or candidate was consulted about this decision. It was made entirely internally,” he noted.

Bezos characterized his choice to end presidential endorsements as a move to restore reader trust. “Presidential endorsements create a perception of bias,” he explained. “Ending them is a principled decision, and the right one.”