Photo source: FMT
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has expressed a positive outlook regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming administration, particularly in terms of regulatory changes.
“I’m actually very optimistic this time around. He seems to have a lot of energy around reducing regulation. If I can help do that, I’m going to help him,” Bezos stated as he spoke at The New York Times’ DealBook Summit.
Despite their historically contentious relationship, which included Trump’s vocal criticisms of Bezos and his companies, the Amazon founder now anticipates a more favourable regulatory setting.
Trump has previously accused Bezos of tax evasion and criticised Amazon’s impact on the U.S. Postal Service, claiming it has contributed to the agency’s financial troubles. In 2019, Amazon attributed its failure to secure a Department of Defense contract, known as JEDI, to what it described as Trump’s “behind-the-scenes attacks.”
The tension between the two extends back to before Trump’s presidency. In 2016, Bezos openly criticised Trump’s behaviour as detrimental to democracy and humorously suggested sending him into space after Trump labeled The Washington Post a “tax shelter.”
However, during Trump’s transition period in December 2016, Bezos joined other tech leaders in a meeting with Trump, which he later described as “very productive.” At that time, he emphasised the importance of innovation for job creation across various sectors.
In recent months leading up to the election, Bezos has maintained a more conciliatory stance toward Trump. He congratulated Trump on his electoral victory and praised his “grace under literal fire” following an assassination attempt during a rally in Pennsylvania last July.
Bezos also made headlines for his controversial decision to prevent The Washington Post from endorsing any presidential candidate during the recent election cycle. This drew criticism from within the publication and resulted in subscription cancellations. Acknowledging the backlash, Bezos defended the decision as necessary despite its unpopularity.
Looking ahead, Bezos’s Blue Origin will likely engage frequently with Trump’s administration regarding federal contracts. Blue Origin competes with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for these opportunities. Musk has been a supporter of Trump’s campaign efforts, contributing substantial funds to pro-Trump political action committees.