Critics of the Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, are targeting the publication for its perceived “gutless” decision to withdraw from a paid advertisement campaign. This ad prominently urged President Donald Trump to dismiss mega-billionaire Elon Musk from his inner circle of advisors.

The advertisement, which was set to cost $115,000, was organized by Common Cause, a pro-democracy watchdog and progressive advocacy organization. It was intended to be distributed to Congress members as well as subscribers at the Pentagon and the White House on Tuesday. However, the group was notified on Friday that the newspaper had decided to withdraw from the agreement.

The campaign, as reflected in the advertisement, asserts, “Elon Musk is treating our government like one of his companies, and it’s detrimental to the American populace.” It further emphasizes, “What’s even more alarming is President Donald Trump’s approval of this situation. It’s time to take a stand and FIRE Elon Musk from any official position within our government.”

The initiative, similar to the ad the Post declined to run, directs supporters to an online petition where they can voice their support for the dismissal of Musk and acquire information on how to contact their representatives.

The call to action emphasizes, “Our elected officials are neglecting their responsibilities to their constituents while Elon Musk acts without accountability. Regardless of whether your senators are on the left, right, or center, they ALL need to hear from ordinary Americans like us today.”

The Hill, which has exclusive coverage of the story, reports that one of the peculiarities of this situation is that when the Post provided Common Cause with a preview of how the ad would look, the sample included an advertisement previously run by the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), an industry lobbying group. This ad showcased a smiling Trump with his thumbs up, reinforcing his pledge to “end the electric vehicle mandate on Day 1.”

“They showed us example designs to indicate how our advertisement would appear,” explained Kase Solomón, president of Common Cause. “It was a ‘thank-you, Donald Trump’ artwork.”

According to The Hill:

The campaign’s design prominently features an image of Musk laughing, alongside an outline of the White House and bold text asking: “Who’s running this country: Donald Trump or Elon Musk?”

Below, the ad includes smaller text stating: “Since day one, Elon has sown chaos and confusion, putting our livelihoods at risk. He answers to no one but himself.”

“The Constitution permits only one president at a time. Urge your senators to demand Donald Trump fire Elon Musk,” concludes the ad, directing readers to FireMusk.org.

This is how the advertisement was intended to appear:

Solomón mentioned that the reasons behind the newspaper’s sudden decision were unclear, but it appeared to be linked to the controversial content of the advertisement and potentially influenced by the political affiliations of the Post’s owner, the second-richest individual globally after Musk. Both men hold significant business interests that could be adversely affected by President Trump.

“Is it because we are critical of Elon Musk’s actions?” Solomón questioned. “Is it only acceptable for The Post to publish content that won’t upset the president or provoke a call from Jeff Bezos asking why this was permitted?”