In an article posted at the top of its website on October 25, the Washington Post also cited sources saying that this was the decision of the company's owner, billionaire Jeff Bezos.

The Post's CEO, journalist Will Lewis, wrote in a column that the decision was a return to the paper's years-old tradition of not endorsing candidates. He said it reflected the paper's belief in "readers' ability to make up their own minds."

The Post said the decision “upset” many members of its opinion editorial board, which operates independently of the Post’s newsroom editorial board.

The Post’s move comes the same week the Los Angeles Times announced a similar decision, leading to the resignation of its editor-in-chief and two other members of its editorial board. LA Times owner Patrick Soon-Shion said he was concerned that endorsing one candidate would further divide the country.

In August, the Minnesota Star Tribune also announced it would no longer endorse candidates. The newspaper is owned by billionaire Glen Taylor, who also owns the Minnesota Timberwolves.

For the Post, the decision is sure to generate considerable controversy. The paper seemed to acknowledge this with a note at the top of its column's comments section: "I know many of you will have strong feelings about Mr. Lewis's note."

Indeed, by mid-afternoon, the column had attracted more than 7,000 comments, many of them critical.

Ngoc Anh (according to AP)