An advertisement scheduled to appear in several editions of The Washington Post, calling for Elon Musk’s removal from his government position, was unexpectedly withdrawn, as reported by the advocacy group that had placed the order.

Common Cause revealed they were informed by the newspaper on Friday that the ad was canceled. The full-page advertisement, designed as a wraparound, was meant to adorn the front and back pages of copies delivered to the White House, Pentagon, and Congress. This initiative was coordinated with the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund.

While a separate full-page ad reflecting similar themes was permitted to run inside the newspaper, both groups ultimately decided to cancel that ad as well. The total cost for both ads amounted to $115,000.

“We inquired about why the wraparound wouldn’t be run when it seemed we adhered to the guidelines that allowed the internal ad,” stated Virginia Kase Solomón, president and CEO of Common Cause. “They indicated they were unable to provide a reason.”

The cancellation of this ad by The Washington Post was initially covered by The Hill.

Although the decision-maker behind the ad’s removal remains unclear, this situation arises amidst rising concerns regarding the shift in the editorial focus of the Washington Post under Jeff Bezos’s ownership, the founder of Amazon. The newspaper’s decision last fall to discontinue its historical practice of endorsing presidential candidates, along with Mr. Bezos’s personal involvement at Mr. Trump’s inauguration, has prompted speculation about the news outlet’s alignment with the Trump administration.

In a recently submitted letter, over 400 employees reached out to Mr. Bezos, requesting a meeting to discuss leadership choices that they believe have compromised the integrity of the organization.