Washington Post columnist Taylor Lorenz is revising her stance after originally claiming that her “war criminal” Instagram post about President Biden had been edited. On Thursday, Lorenz sparked controversy when New York Post reporter Jon Levine shared a screenshot of her post, which featured a selfie with Biden in the background and the caption “war criminal” accompanied by a frowny face.
In response to Levine on X, Lorenz dismissed the claims, saying, “You people will fall for any dumba– edit someone makes.” However, by Friday, she admitted the post was genuine but insisted it was intended as a joke. Lorenz clarified on X that she had never denied the post’s authenticity and labeled it an “obvious meme.”
Washington Post’s Taylor Lorenz faces scrutiny over a ‘war criminal’ Instagram post, now confirmed genuine, with investigations ongoing
Speculation arose online about whether Lorenz was referencing musician Lucy Dacus, who had labeled former President Obama a “war criminal” on social media last year. The post in question was shared through Instagram’s “close friends” feature, meaning it was visible only to a select group of users.
NPR had previously confirmed the post’s authenticity through “four people with direct knowledge.” Lorenz responded by noting that only a small circle of her personal contacts saw the post and expressed confusion about who might be discussing it.
The Washington Post has acknowledged the situation and is investigating the matter but has not provided further comments. Lorenz, known for her outspoken views, has a history of social media controversies and critical reporting.
