Jim VandeHei Defends How Axios Is Covering Trump In Push Back On ‘Pissed’ Readers
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Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei defended his publication in response to critics “pissed” at his outlet’s coverage of the Trump administration, insisting the publication remains steadfast in its editorial mission.
In a column for Axios’ Finish Line newsletter late Thursday, VandeHei addressed the range of feedback he had received—everything from being labeled a “Beta Soy Boy” to a “soulless suck-up.” Recent coverage and framing prompted a scathing column from Mediaite’s Tommy Christopher last week.
In his impassioned defense, VandeHei argued: “The truth sits in between.”
VandeHei laid out three core guiding principles that have shaped Axios since its founding nearly eight years ago: No editorial pages, no political takes from reporters on social media, and an obsession with what the outlet calls “Smart Brevity.” The latter, which has defined Axios’ style, forces reporters to be concise while maintaining substance.
VandeHei argued that the “new environment” that outlet’s were trying to navigate were fragmentation in story delivery and charged by President Donald Trump’s “war on media.”
He defended Axios’ willingness to engage in spaces other media outlets might shun — most notably X, where he and Trump ally Elon Musk have sparred over the value of traditional journalism.
“Axios wants our content where smart, curious readers congregate — and X is inarguably the top platform for tens of millions of them,” he wrote.
On Trump and the broader war on media, VandeHei took a measured stance. While acknowledging Trump engages with the press more frequently than former President Joe Biden, he pointed to real concerns — his legal battles with major outlets, “freezing out the AP” and media blackouts.
With this, VandeHei addressed backlash to the outlet’s decision to follow Trump-mandated terminology for the “Gulf of America” – renamed by the U.S. from Gulf of Mexico.
“Some of you were pissed that we broke with AP on the actual Gulf debate,” he wrote. “Critics saw this as caving into the White House. But to us, it was easy to simply follow the North Star of being reader-first. If you go to Google Maps, Apple Maps or government websites, that body of water is called Gulf of America. So we just give the exact state of play without putting on the jersey of one side or the other.”
He further pointed out that Axios had criticized the White House’s barring of AP.
VandeHei continued: “We’ll cover every topic — from Trump to AI — clinically and unemotionally, like a doctor. We simply want to give you the facts and insights to make better decisions and live better lives.”
He added: “Our ask: Don’t assume every story we write or decision we make is because we’re morons or corrupt or MAGA lovers or liberal lovers. Just ask.”
