WASHINGTON -- Amazon founder and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos says Donald Trump's criticism of him and the newspaper is "not an appropriate way for a presidential candidate to behave."

The Washington Post reports Bezos told a technology conference at the newspaper's headquarters Wednesday that "it's critical that we be able to carefully examine our leaders," while also noting that "a company like Amazon deserves to be scrutinized and criticized."

Bezos is responding to Trump's comments to Fox News last week, when the likely Republican presidential nominee said Bezos is "using The Washington Post for power so that the politicians in Washington don't tax Amazon like they should be taxed."

Washington Post executive editor Martin Baron said last week that he has "received no instructions from Jeff Bezos" regarding campaign coverage.