Mike Pompeo Blasts the Washington Post For ‘Appalling and Sick’ al-Baghdadi Headline

The Washington Post’s headline describing former ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi as a “religious scholar” is a false, “sick” narrative and should be viewed as “appalling,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday on “Fox & Friends.”

Pompeo said the newspaper’s timing and choice of words were completely out of line and called for those responsible to apologize.

“I think it’s appalling and sick … that they’ve frankly not apologized for taking this man who was the head of the terrorist organization that beheaded people… who led a caliphate that threatened large pieces of the Middle East and indeed, presented risks to the United States and America,” Pompeo said.

Obama official who backed Iran deal sparks online outrage with reaction to Trump’s strike: ‘Sit this one out’

Bill Clinton’s credibility threatened by decades of scandals amid grilling over Epstein ties

Monitoring the situation: White House releases photos of Trump, Rubio and team being briefed on Iran operation

Iran Supreme Leader Targeted, Believed Killed, in Sweeping US-Israeli Strikes

The US and Israel attacked Iran: What we know

Trump finds unlikely Democratic allies on decision to strike Iran

Democrats buck party leaders to defend Trump’s ‘decisive action’ on Iran

Nancy Guthrie missing: Forensic scientist encourages new investigative approach since case ‘isn’t cold yet’

FBI raises counterterror teams to high alert amid Iran tensions

Bipartisan revolt targets Trump’s war powers after massive Iran strikes

Iran strikes erase ‘space’ between Trump and Netanyahu, insiders say

Rubio alerted Gang of Eight before Iran attack, in contrast to Venezuela mission

Trump oversees US strikes on Iran from Mar-a-Lago, speaks with Netanyahu: WH

Congressional War Power Act advocates revive calls for vote after Trump’s Iran strikes

Trump Urges Iranian People to Rise Up Against Their Regime Following Strikes: ‘Take Over Your Government’

“The fact that a national newspaper would describe this person as an “austere scholar” in their headline — in the immediate aftermath of the achievements of President Trump and the administration, is truly appalling,” Pompeo continued.

Al-Baghdadi, who took over as the head of ISIS after his predecessor Abu Omar al-Baghdadi was killed in 2010, detonated a suicide vest as U.S. special forces closed in. Troops were sent to attack a compound in northern Syria where al-Baghdadi was located, according to a U.S. defense official.

No U.S. Special Operations forces were harmed or killed during the mission, and Trump claimed the operation had been in the works for several weeks.

Fox News host Sean Hannity also weighed in on the headline and called it “sick and repulsive,” in a Sunday Twitter post.