The Washington Post decided to cancel an advertisement that demanded President Donald Trump to dismiss Elon Musk, which was set to appear in some of its Tuesday print editions. The advocacy group Common Cause had agreed to spend $115,000 for the ad to criticize Elon Musk, a billionaire, by wrapping it around the newspapers and placing a similar ad inside the paper.
Background of the Ad Campaign
Common Cause initiated a campaign named "Fire Elon Musk," encouraging individuals to sign a petition asking for Musk's removal as the head of the new Department of Government Efficiency. The ad showcased Musk laughing behind an image of the White House with the text, "Who's running this country: Donald Trump or Elon Musk?" The smaller text beneath highlighted Musk's alleged chaos and confusion creation, emphasizing that the Constitution permits only one president at a time.
Post's Response and Rejection
The Post initially approved the ad's content but later informed Common Cause about its decision to withdraw the wrap ad without providing a reason. Although the Post offered to publish a similar ad inside the paper, Common Cause declined the proposal. Common Cause expressed disappointment at the censorship, stating that it limits freedom of expression during a crucial period in the nation's history.
Common Cause's Stance
Common Cause, in collaboration with the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, planned to run the ads. They collected 60,000 signatures and arranged numerous calls to congressional representatives to support their petition for Musk's removal from the head of DOGE, the new commission aimed at reducing federal spending and regulations.
Post's Decision and Musk's Relationship with Bezos
The Washington Post's move to retract the ad occurred shortly after Musk hinted at a friendly relationship with Jeff Bezos, the owner of the outlet and Musk's competing counterpart in the space industry. Musk, the world's wealthiest individual with various companies under his belt, including SpaceX and Tesla, is now leading DOGE. Despite the playful banter between Musk and Bezos over the years, the Post's decision to pull the ad suggests potential external influences.
These developments unfolded following Musk and Bezos exchanging compliments on their rocket launches and Musk sharing clips from the movie "Step Brothers" on social media, indicating a light-hearted friendship between the two magnates.
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By: rtorrence@businessinsider.com (Rebecca Torrence)
Title: The Washington Post pulls ad calling for Trump to ‘fire Elon Musk’ after initially approving it
Sourced From: www.businessinsider.com/see-fire-elon-musk-ad-washington-post-scrapped-2025-2
Published Date: Tue, 18 Feb 2025 02:47:31 +0000
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