The Washington Post is investigating allegations that its high-profile columnist Taylor Lorenz posted an Instagram story referring to President Joe Biden as a "war criminal."
According to a report by Fox News, the alleged post, which was not publicly visible, featured a selfie of Lorenz at the White House Creator Economy Conference with Biden speaking in the background. The image was captioned "War criminal" with a frowny face emoji.
The alleged Instagram story was reportedly shared using the platform's "close friends" feature, which limits visibility to a select group of users. Fox News Digital learned that the post was not publicly accessible and could only be viewed by individuals chosen by Lorenz. The Washington Post has acknowledged the situation and stated that they are looking into the matter.
Taylor Lorenz, known for her far-left opinions and controversial social media presence, has denied the authenticity of the post.
In response to New York Post's Jonathan Levine, who initially shared the screenshot, Lorenz claimed, "You people will fall for any dumba-- edit someone makes." However, Levine expressed skepticism about her denial, citing Lorenz's "long history of lying about things like this."
Despite her denial, Lorenz did share multiple public Instagram stories from the White House conference. These stories included videos and photos from the event but without the controversial "war criminal" caption that was allegedly present in the private post.
When contacted by Fox News Digital, the Washington Post stated, "We're aware of the alleged social media post and are looking into it." This response indicates that the newspaper is taking the allegations seriously and conducting an internal investigation.
The alleged post by Lorenz comes amid ongoing criticism of President Biden from far-left circles, particularly regarding his handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Some critics have labeled him as "Genocide Joe" for continuing to provide military aid to Israel following the October 7 terrorist attack.
Lorenz, who is known for her criticism of Israel, aligns with this far-left perspective. However, it's important to note that the authenticity of the Instagram post in question remains unverified, and Lorenz has explicitly denied creating it.
Taylor Lorenz has a history of sparking controversy on social media and through her reporting tactics. This latest incident adds to a series of contentious situations involving the Washington Post columnist.
In this case, the use of Instagram's "close friends" feature raises questions about the privacy and potential leaks of social media content intended for a limited audience. It also highlights the challenges media organizations face in monitoring and managing their journalists' social media presence, especially when it comes to high-profile figures like Lorenz.
As the Washington Post continues its investigation into the alleged post, the incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between journalistic integrity, personal opinions, and social media use among media professionals.
The Washington Post is investigating allegations that columnist Taylor Lorenz posted an Instagram story calling President Biden a "war criminal." Lorenz has denied the authenticity of the post, claiming it was edited. The alleged post was reportedly shared using Instagram's "close friends" feature, limiting its visibility. The incident has drawn attention due to Lorenz's history of controversy and her far-left opinions. The Washington Post has acknowledged the situation and is looking into the matter.
