Washington Post faces backlash over describing Khamenei as having ‘easy smile’
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The Washington Post described Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed on Saturday, as having “a bushy white beard and an easy smile” in the Iranian leader’s obituary this weekend.
“With his bushy white beard and easy smile, Ayatollah Khamenei cut a more mundane figure in public than his perpetually scowling but much more respected mentor, and was known to be fond of Persian poetry and classic Western novels, especially Victor Hugo’s ‘Les Misérables.’ But like the uncompromising Khomeini, he opposed efforts by moderates to promote political and social reforms at home and rapprochement with the United States.” Post wrote In the religious leader’s obituary.
Khamenei, along with other senior leaders, was killed after an Israeli attack on Tehran as part of a massive US-Israeli coordinated military offensive called “Operation Epic Rage”.
According to Iranian state television, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addresses the public in Tehran, Iran, on the occasion of the 47th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, on February 9, 2026. (Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu/Getty Images)
This article was met with reaction on social media. The obituary stated in a lengthy article describing how he came to power in Iran that the leader was responsible for thousands of murders.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wrote in response to WaPo’s paragraph on Khamenei: “This is disgusting.”
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Jennifer Sey, founder of XX-XY Athletics, called the paragraph in the Post “the ultimate TDS.”
“This is not a satire,” actor James Woods wrote, quoting the Post’s description of Khamenei.
The Washington Post faced backlash after describing ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a “hardcore religious scholar” in an obituary written after Trump was killed during his first term in 2019.
Some argued that the paragraph about the religious leader was reminiscent of the Baghdadi headline.
The New York Times also used the word “advocates” to describe Al Khamenei in its obituary.
joint military operation Attacks against Iran are expected to continue for days. Officials told Fox News that Israel targeted Iran’s leadership, while the United States targeted military targets and ballistic missile sites that posed an “imminent threat.”
Minister Donald Trump He warned on Sunday against Iranian retaliation against US and Israeli attacks. If Iran “hits too hard,” he said, they would face “unprecedented force.”
The Washington Post did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
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