According to Axios reporter Alex Thompson on CNN Monday, The Washington Post is facing turmoil after longtime cartoonist Ann Telnaes resigned due to the newspaper’s rejection of her artwork featuring Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos supplicating to President-elect Trump.
Telnaes, a Pulitzer Prize winner who had been with the Washington Post since 2008, announced her departure via Substack after her cartoon was axed. The cartoon depicted Bezos and other unidentified wealthy individuals kneeling and presenting bags of money to the incoming president, with Mickey Mouse prostrating beside them.
“It illustrates how different the current state of affairs is at the Washington Post compared to the initial Trump era. The Washington Post, frankly, thrived during the first Trump administration. Now, it seems to be in disarray. Not only did they decide not to endorse a candidate in the 2024 presidential election, but now this. Many individuals have left the Washington Post, and I believe this institution is in a significantly different position,” Thompson explained.
Before the election, Bezos prevented the Washington Post‘s editorial board from endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris, prompting several staff members to resign in protest.
Cartoonist Ann Telnaes’ decision to quit was influenced by the rejection of her cartoon by The Washington Post. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
