The Washington Post announced that it will no longer endorse presidential candidates, breaking a tradition that dates back nearly 50 years.

According to the New York Times, the newspaper’s chief executive, Will Lewis, informed the newsroom on Friday, stating that the decision reflects a return to the publication’s earlier practices.

“The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election. We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates,” Mr Lewis wrote in his message.

In his note to the staff, Mr Lewis offered limited details on how The Washington Post reached its decision, stating only that it should not be interpreted as “a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another.”

He cited a 1960 editorial in which the paper argued that it was “wiser for an independent newspaper in the nation’s Capital” to refrain from endorsing presidential candidates.

The New York Times, citing four individuals who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the matter, said the editorial team had already prepared an endorsement for Vice President Kamala Harris prior to the decision.

Since 1976, the Post has regularly endorsed presidential candidates, beginning with its endorsement of Jimmy Carter, who went on to win the presidency.

Prior to that, the paper largely refrained from taking a stance in presidential races, though it did endorse Dwight Eisenhower in 1952, a notable exception.

Marty Baron, the retired executive editor, described the decision on X as an example of “cowardice” and “spinelessness.”

This move marks a significant departure from a longstanding tradition among major American newspapers, many of which continue to publicly support political candidates during election cycles.