Karen Attiah
Karen Attiah is an American journalist and former columnist for The Washington Post, where she served as the Global Opinions Editor. Attiah has garnered criticism from across the political spectrum, particularly among conservatives and pro-Israel advocates, for what critics characterize as a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric, misleading commentary on Middle Eastern politics, and a persistent double standard when addressing issues of antisemitism, political violence, and race.
Career
Attiah began her journalism career covering global affairs with a focus on race, foreign policy, and human rights. She rose to prominence at The Washington Post, where she became closely associated with publishing the work of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident writer and Qatari-linked commentator who was murdered in 2018. Attiah was reportedly working on a book about Khashoggi, but the project was later dropped by HarperCollins with little public explanation.[1]
Controversies
Anti-White Bigotry
Attiah has been criticized for making racially charged remarks that many have described as overtly anti-white. In one notable 2020 tweet, she wrote: *“White women are lucky that we are just calling them out and not calling for revenge.”
“The lies & tears of White women hath wrought: -The 1921 Tulsa Massacre – Murder of Emmet Till – Exclusion of Black women from feminist movements – 53% of white women voting for Trump.[2]
She further generalized that white women are "the most dangerous demographic in the United States." These comments sparked significant backlash, with many critics accusing her of promoting racial hostility and using her platform to foster division.[3]
Conservative commentators and media ethicists have argued that such remarks reflect a pattern of identity-based scapegoating and double standards in her journalism. While quick to condemn perceived injustices against marginalized communities, Attiah has often excused or minimized overt expressions of hate—so long as the targets are white, conservative, or Jewish.[1][4]
Platforming Extremism
In 2018, Attiah faced intense criticism after she chose to publish an opinion piece in The Washington Post by a senior figure in the Houthi militia, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization operating in Yemen. The Houthis are notorious for their extremist rhetoric and violent actions, including their group motto: *“Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse the Jews, Victory to Islam.”*
Attiah defended the editorial decision by stating that “all sides in Middle East debates needed to be heard,” a justification that drew backlash from counterterrorism experts, Jewish organizations, and pro-democracy advocates. Critics accused Attiah of giving a platform to genocidal hate under the guise of open dialogue, noting the stark contrast between her defense of literal terrorists and her calls to silence U.S. political figures for comparatively moderate positions.[1]
Anti-Israel Bigotry
Attiah’s writing has consistently drawn sharp rebuke for her hostile stance toward the State of Israel. Media watchdogs such as HonestReporting and opinion columnists have accused her of distorting facts, downplaying terrorist violence, and amplifying extremist narratives.[5]
In the immediate aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre of Israeli civilians, Attiah reposted a tweet that read: *“What did y’all think decolonization meant? Vibes? Papers? Essays? losers.”* Her social media post was widely interpreted as an implicit justification for Hamas’ terrorist attacks, which left over 1,200 Israelis dead, many of them women and children.[6]
Attiah has also defended controversial figures such as Marc Lamont Hill, who was dismissed by CNN for promoting the eliminationist slogan *“from the river to the sea”*, widely understood as a call for the destruction of Israel. Attiah defended Marc Lamont Hill despite his support for a Palestinian terrorist and his promotion of antisemitic content[1] by Islamofascist, Hitler fan Louis Farrakhan.
Anti-Semitism and the "Squad"
She has been a vocal supporter of progressive members of Congress like Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, even when those lawmakers have been accused of making antisemitic remarks. Attiah has dismissed criticism of them as motivated by apposed "racism and sexism" rather than legitimate concern over anti-Jewish bigotry.[1]
False Accusations Against France
In 2020, Attiah falsely accused the French government of targeting Muslim children, a claim that was later debunked by multiple sources. Critics argued this was emblematic of her broader pattern of inflammatory and inaccurate rhetoric on international affairs.[3]
Demands Censorship of Opposing Views
Despite championing free speech when it benefits her ideological allies, Attiah has repeatedly called for the suppression of opposing voices. She demanded the retraction of an op-ed by U.S. Senator Tom Cotton in The New York Times advocating for the use of the National Guard during riots in 2020, citing it as dangerous—while simultaneously defending the publication of a column by a leader of Yemen's Houthi militia, whose slogan includes “Death to America, Death to Israel.”[1]
Firing from The Washington Post
In September 2025, Attiah was fired from The Washington Post following a series of social media posts made after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The paper cited "gross misconduct" and behavior that "endangered the physical safety of colleagues."[4] Attiah responded by claiming her firing was part of a "broader purge of Black voices" in media and academia.[6]
She egregiously misquoted Charlie Kirk, which is journalistic malpractice:
| “ | The firing of Karen Attiah is a good example of something I do NOT count as cancel culture.
She egregiously misquoted Charlie Kirk, which is journalistic malpractice. WaPo fired her, as was their right. Fine by me. It's not her opinions, it's bad journalism.[7] |
” |
Views on Race and Gender
Attiah has drawn widespread attention for her outspoken views on racial identity, gender dynamics, and systemic injustice. While lauded by some progressive circles, her rhetoric has been described by critics as divisive and ideologically extreme, often focusing on racial grievance narratives that polarize rather than unite.
Personal Life
Little is publicly known about Attiah's personal life. She maintains a presence on Substack, where she continues to publish commentary.
See Also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Christine Rosen (2023-11-15). How Do You Solve a Problem Like Attiah?.
- ↑ https://www.aim.org/don-irvine-blog/washington-post-editor-deletes-tweet-saying-white-women-are-lucky-we-arent-calling-for-revenge/
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Washington Post editor rants against white women, lies about France targeting Muslim children (2020-11-23).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hanna Panreck (2025-09-15). Ex-WaPo columnist fired from outlet over social media posts amid Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
- ↑ Chaim Lax (2023-11-14). How The Washington Post’s Karen Attiah Defames Israel Online & in Print.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Andrew Bernard (2025-09-15). Washington Post fires anti-Israel opinion writer after posts about Kirk.
- ↑ Robby Soave @robbysoave:
The firing of Karen Attiah is a good example of something I do NOT count as cancel culture.
She egregiously misquoted Charlie Kirk, which is journalistic malpractice. WaPo fired her, as was their right. Fine by me.
It's not her opinions, it's bad journalism.