Trump Campaign files Federal Election Commission complaint on the Washington Post for using corporate dollars to amplify anti Trump stories on social media.
The Trump campaign filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint on Thursday, alleging that The Washington Post has made illegal in-kind contributions to Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign by amplifying negative coverage of Donald Trump. The six-page complaint claims the newspaper's recent actions amount to “coordinated communications” aimed at bolstering Harris’s presidential bid, citing a report from Semafor that revealed the Post had paid to promote critical Trump articles while highlighting “neutral” content about Harris.
“‘Democracy Dies in Darkness,’ says The Washington Post, yet on the eve of the 2024 general election, it’s the Post engaging in dark money tactics, allegedly using its advertising to promote Kamala Harris’s candidacy,” wrote Trump campaign deputy general counsel Gary Lawkowski. He pointed to a recent Post article discussing people leaving Trump rallies early as an example of alleged bias, noting that this story aligned with Harris’s digital messaging.
The complaint further suggests that The Washington Post has promoted Harris’s campaign outreach, including her team’s use of social media influencers, in a way that appears coordinated. “A reasonable inference is that the Harris team has communicated its messaging strategy to The Washington Post, and that that messaging strategy is reflected in what The Post chooses to promote,” the complaint alleges.
The Trump campaign criticized the Post’s practices as an example of “pro-Kamala propaganda” in mainstream media, asserting that such actions warrant accountability. The Washington Post, facing internal turmoil after its owner Jeff Bezos reportedly blocked a Harris endorsement and saw resignations within its editorial board, defended its advertising strategy as part of its regular social media promotion of popular content across all topics.
The FEC must now determine whether the Washington Post’s practices fall within “legitimate press functions” or constitute coordinated political activity, which would subject the paper to federal election law scrutiny.
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