Trump used to think Jeff Bezos was 'an amazing guy'


President Trump used to be a fan of what he now calls the "Fake Washington Post" — as well as its owner, who's now his enemy No. 1.
In a previously unaired chunk of a 2013 interview, Trump was asked about Jeff Bezos' purchase of The Washington Post, and it bore no resemblance to how he'd describe the Amazon founder today.
"I'm a fan of The Washington Post," Trump told ABC News' Jon Karl in 2013, also heaping praise on the Graham family, who used to own the paper. "And I have to tell you I think that Jeff, who really is an amazing guy, I think he's going to bring it to that next plateau."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump wasn't sure if Bezos was going to make money on the Post, but said that "ultimately, he probably will." If anything, Bezos would surely bring the paper "into the internet age," Trump told ABC News.
Today, Trump doesn't seem to hate the Post as much as the failing New York Times. But he still explicitly called the paper "fake" in a March tweet, and said it's become a "lobbyist" for Bezos. Trump's anti-Bezos opinions actually sprouted within two years of spewing niceties to ABC News, seeing as he accused Bezos of using the Post as a "tax shelter" to "screw" the public in December 2015 tweet.
Nearly three years after his first insult, Trump is still stuck on bashing Bezos. Meanwhile, his 2013 prediction — that Bezos would "ultimately" profit off the Post — is starting to come true.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'"Andor" examines all sides of how empires operate'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
DHS chief Kristi Noem's purse stolen from eatery
Speed Read Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's purse was stolen while she dined with family at a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Harvard sues Trump over frozen grant money
Speed Read The Trump administration withheld $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts after Harvard rejected its demands
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
By Justin Klawans, The Week US
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US