Washington Post columnist Boot changes al-Baghdadi column after criticism

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.”

{mosads}Boot also deleted a tweet in which he essentially made the same argument while also challenging President Trump’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 Miller (@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

*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

— SETH WEATHERS (@sethweathers) October 28, 2019

Boot has been a staunch critic of Trump since the former real estate mogul announced his candidacy in June 2015.