The New York Times deleted a tweet about Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, which characterized him as “retired” and focused on his new clothing line.
“The retired Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher has a his [sic] new apparel line called Salty Frog Gear, which is a [sic] described as a ‘coastal lifestyle brand with an edge,’” the Times wrote in the now-deleted tweet on its NYT Politics account.
The tweet failed to mention that Gallagher was acquitted in July of murder and attempted murder but was found guilty of taking a picture unlawfully with a corpse. He was accused of killing an injured teenage ISIS fighter and shooting at civilians in 2017 in Iraq.
After backlash, the New York Times announced it had deleted the tweet because it “lacked context.”
We have deleted an earlier tweet to this story that lacked context. Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of charges that he killed a wounded captive in Iraq, later received clemency from President Trump — information that’s provided in the article. https://t.co/0jnC5x5EDy
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) January 2, 2020
Their statement reads, “We have deleted an earlier tweet to this story that lacked context. Edward Gallagher, who was acquitted of charges that he killed a wounded captive in Iraq, later received clemency from President Trump — information that’s provided in the article.”
Since being acquitted, Gallagher has been praised by Trump on numerous occasions. The two met in Mar-a-Lago last month. Gallagher has recently launched an apparel line called Salty Frog Gear. The apparel is billed as a “coastal lifestyle brand with an edge,” which features T-shirts that read “stay salty” and hooded sweatshirts with a custom front pocket meant to hold a beer bottle.
A number of people expressed their outrage at the Times’ original characterization of Gallagher on social media.
[Read more: ‘I felt sorry for them’: Eddie Gallagher says SEALs lied in videos accusing him of war crimes]
NYT: Publishes searing expose on serial killer/Navy Seal Edward Gallagher on Dec 27. https://t.co/AlqPk79gw0
Also NYT: Posts tone-deaf tweet about Gallaghers fashion line on Jan 1. pic.twitter.com/i0sjGTokvQ
— Mikki Halpin (@mikkipedia) January 2, 2020
Thank you. I am aware the detail is in the article. Many people don’t read the article—or subscribe—so tweets themselves should also have context. https://t.co/djStSZpybY
— Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) January 2, 2020
“Retired”?
Same-length alternative:
“After his court martial, Edward Gallagher … “
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) January 1, 2020
You provided context in the story–but the previous tweet was nothing more than an advertisement for a pardoned war criminal’s new business venture. What. The. Hell.
— Anita Creamer (@AnitaCreamer) January 2, 2020
