A billboard with Elon Musk’s face and the words “I’m stealing from you” pasted near Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, Photo: Jemal Countess / Getty images
The Washington Post has cancelled an advert calling on President Donald Trump to fire Elon Musk from his government posts. The decision sparked discussions about possible censorship and the influence of the newspaper’s owner, billionaire Jeff Bezos, on editorial policy. This was reported by The New York Times and The Hill.
The advert was commissioned by Common Cause and the Southern Poverty Law Centre Action Fund. It was to appear on the front and back pages of the newspaper and cost$115,000. The main image included a photo of Musk laughing at the White House with the question:
“Who is running the country: Donald Trump or Elon Musk?”
The Washington Post editorial board allowed the publication of a less prominent version of the advert inside the issue, but the clients refused to compromise. The newspaper did not provide an explanation for its decision.
At the same time, there is growing concern in the media about Jeff Bezos’s influence on the editorial independence of the publication. Earlier, he interfered in the process of approving editorial support for an election candidate, which drew criticism from journalists and readers.
Is this censorship or just a business decision? The discussion is ongoing.
