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 TrumpDonald TrumpSenators given no timeline on removal of National Guard, Capitol fence Democratic fury with GOP explodes in House Georgia secretary of state withholds support for 'reactionary' GOP voting bills 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 MillerPence huddles with senior members of Republican Study Committee Sunday shows preview: CDC school reopening guidance stirs debate; Texas battles winter freeze Larry Kudlow debuts to big ratings on Fox Business Network 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.