Jeff Bezos says he’s ‘very optimistic’ about Donald Trump’s second time period

Jeff Bezos and President-elect Donald Trump famously didn’t get alongside the final time Trump was within the White Home. This time, Bezos says he’s “very optimistic” and even desires to assist out.

“I’m truly very optimistic this time round,” Bezos mentioned of Trump throughout a uncommon public look at The New York Occasions DealBook Summit on Wednesday. “He appears to have loads of vitality round decreasing regulation. If I will help him try this, I’m going to assist him.”

Trump railed in opposition to Bezos and his firms — Amazon, Blue Origin, and The Washington Publish — throughout his 2016 time period. Bezos defended himself but it surely did little to assist his popularity with Trump. Now, his firms have quite a bit at stake within the coming administration, from the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit in opposition to Amazon to Blue Origin’s efforts to compete with SpaceX for presidency contracts.

Onstage on the DealBook Summit on Wednesday, Bezos referred to as Trump “calmer this time” and “extra settled.” He mentioned he’ll attempt to “speak him out of” the concept that the press, which incorporates The Washington Publish, is an enemy of the individuals.

“You’ve in all probability grown within the final eight years,” he mentioned to DealBook’s Andrew Ross Sorkin. “He has, too.”

Bezos additionally echoed Sam Altman’s feedback earlier within the day, saying he doesn’t anticipate Elon Musk to wield his new political energy with DOGE in opposition to rivals. “I’ve had quite a bit success in life not being cynical,” he mentioned. “And I’ve hardly ever been taken benefit of in consequence.”

You may watch Bezos’s dialog with Andrew Ross Sorkin under: