According to the advocacy group's spokesperson, Common Cause learned on Friday that the Post would not run the ad criticizing Musk. This decision comes after the Post received widespread backlash for not endorsing a political candidate during the 2024 presidential election, and its owner, Jeff Bezos, openly supported President Donald Trump.

The watchdog group Common Cause, in cooperation with the Southern Poverty Law Center, had agreed to pay the Post $115,000 for one ad placement on the front and back of Tuesday’s print edition, and another similar full-page ad on the inside of the paper.

The Washington Post, owned by Amazon boss Jeff Bezos, pulled a $115,000 front and back page advert calling for President Donald Trump to “fire” Elon Musk, his Department of Government Efficiency head.