Dec 4, 2024 - Business

Jeff Bezos "very optimistic" about Trump's second term

Hope King

older man, bald, wearing a black shirt talking on stage with a blue background — Jeff Bezos, founder and executive chairman of Amazon and owner of the Washington Post, speaks during the New York Times annual DealBook summit at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Dec. 4, 2024 in New York City. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos said on Wednesday that he's optimistic about President-elect Trump's second term.

Driving the news: "I'm very optimistic that President Trump is serious about this regulatory agenda, and I think he has a good chance of succeeding," Bezos told Andrew Ross Sorkin at the New York Times DealBook Summit.

"I've had a lot of success in life not being cynical."
Bezos' comments echo the sentiment of other corporate leaders who anticipate the new administration will usher in an era of light-touch regulation.

The intrigue: Bezos' tone is similar but more upbeat than the one he struck at the start of Trump's first entry into the White House.

But the olive branch he tried to extend wasn't returned — with Trump often attacking Bezos and his companies over the first four years.

The big picture: Bezos has since stepped down as CEO from Amazon to focus on his space ambitions with Blue Origin.

But his leadership of the Post will likely continue to pose a thorn in the relationship he may hope to form with Trump.

What we're watching: Bezos said he will try to talk Trump out of the idea that the press is the enemy.

"He is calmer than he was and more confident and more settled," Bezos said of Trump.

Go deeper: Bezos breaks his silence on ending WaPo endorsements

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Jeff Bezos "very optimistic" about Trump's second term

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