The Washington Post editors have initiated a review of tech journalist Taylor Lorenz’s private Instagram stories after a photo surfaced that appears to label President Joe Biden as a “war criminal.” The photo, which was privately shared with friends, shows Lorenz taking a selfie at a digital influencers event at the White House, with Biden visible in the background. The controversial caption is displayed alongside the image.
The New York Post’s Jon Levine shared a screenshot of the photo, leading Lorenz to assert that the image had been manipulated. “You people will fall for any dumbass edit someone makes,” she responded. The tweet from Levine received mixed reactions on X (formerly Twitter), with some users claiming Lorenz had denied the post, while others pointed to NPR’s verification. Lorenz also informed her editors that the image was fake.
The Washington Post commented on the situation, stating that their executive and senior editors are taking the alleged standards violation seriously and are investigating the matter. NPR reported that Lorenz had removed the post from her Instagram and later shared the same selfie without the contentious caption.
According to NPR, Lorenz explained that a close friend had superimposed the caption on the original photo as a joke, which she then shared privately on Instagram.
Real Clear Politics’ Tom Bevan reacted to the situation, stating, “So she lied.”
This incident comes amidst broader controversies surrounding President Biden’s policies, particularly regarding U.S. support for Israel during its conflict with Palestinian terrorists. The Biden-Harris administration has also been providing aid to Gaza, which is controlled by Hamas, the terrorist group responsible for the October 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 Israelis, an event that triggered the ongoing war.
The Washington Post’s standards for “Taste” emphasize respect for decency and sensitivity, noting that offensive language and content should be used only when essential to a story and with the approval of senior editors. They also recommend providing warnings when linking to potentially offensive material.