Washington Post columnist Max Boot made a change to his column on Monday after coming under criticism for stating that the late ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was not a coward because “he blew himself up” over being captured by U.S. forces.
“An earlier version of this column included a sentence questioning whether Trump was right to call Baghdadi a coward because he blew himself up,” Boot wrote late Monday in explaining the change. “The line was removed because it unintentionally conveyed the impression that I considered Baghdadi courageous.”
Boot also deleted a tweet in which he essentially made the same argument while also challenging President Trump
Donald John TrumpFive takeaways from Trump-Biden debate clash The Memo: Debate or debacle? Democrats rip Trump for not condemning white supremacists, Proud Boys at debate MORE's unverified claim that al-Baghdadi was “whimpering and crying.”
Max Boot has deleted his tweet that said al-Baghdadi was not a coward because he blew himself up. pic.twitter.com/nXStIYNeLv
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) October 28, 2019
Boot had come under criticism for his initial wording. Al-Baghdadi killed himself and three of his children when he triggered the explosion.
“The assertion that Baghdadi died as a coward was, in any case, contradicted by the fact that rather than be captured, he blew himself up,” he wrote.
I regret to announce Max Boot is at it again.
— Stephen MillerStephen MillerSpecial counsel investigating DeVos for potential Hatch Act violation: report Trump confirms another White House staffer tested positive for COVID-19 Biden pick creates furor, underscoring bitterness over Obama immigration policy MORE (@redsteeze) October 28, 2019
So suicide is brave? And what of the three innocent children that died with him in the explosion? https://t.co/LaeaLP0Y3I
— Mark Hemingway (@Heminator) October 28, 2019
I didn’t think we’d get a “actually, detonating yourself and your three small children is not cowardly” take today, yet here we are. https://t.co/f1OK6kfyL0
— (@BecketAdams) October 28, 2019
Trump broke Max Boot
— Dan Bongino (@dbongino) October 29, 2019
How screwed up does your childhood have to have been for you to write this sentence? Get therapy, @MaxBoot. pic.twitter.com/uKnBtsy8XU
— Derek Hunter (@derekahunter) October 28, 2019
When Trump Derangement Syndrome makes you defend the dying honor of
— SETH WEATHERS (@sethweathers) October 28, 2019
*checks notes*
The worlds worst terrorist
“The assertion that Baghdadi died as a coward was contradicted by the fact that rather than be captured he blew himself up.”
ISIS thanks you, @MaxBoot! https://t.co/TY44Kaz9qi
Boot has been a staunch critic of Trump since the former real estate mogul announced his candidacy in June 2015.
