Memorial Day is a sacred moment in America’s civic life. It’s the one day each year that unites the nation in solemn remembrance of those who laid down their lives so the rest of us could enjoy the blessings of liberty. And yet, when Americans turned to one of the nation’s most prominent newspapers this Memorial Day weekend, The Washington Post had something else on its mind.
The front page didn’t feature Arlington’s hallowed hills, folded flags, or the faces of fallen heroes. Instead, the Post chose to highlight George Floyd and Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an accused MS-13 gang member—an editorial decision so tone-deaf and politically revealing, it borders on grotesque.
On this Memorial Day Weekend, the Washington Post is featuring – on their front page – their heroes Kilmar Abrego Garcia and St. George Floyd. Surprised they left out their boy Luigi Mangione. pic.twitter.com/sECbeCW3Kl
— Chris Plante Show (@ChrisPlanteShow) May 25, 2025
Let’s rewind for a moment. The Post’s controversial slogan, “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” was unveiled just weeks after Donald Trump took office, instantly setting a combative tone. Since then, the paper has repeatedly been criticized for placing partisan agendas ahead of balanced reporting—and this latest example may be the most egregious yet.
While the rest of the country lowered flags, The Washington Post raised eyebrows. There was no featured tribute to the men and women of our military. No editorial board statement honoring the fallen. Just a few links—buried beneath the noise—pointing to previously published reflections from veterans. Nothing up top. No photos of Arlington. No mention of what the day is for.
On Memorial Day, 2nd Lt. Thomas V. Kelly Jr. will be buried beside his family in Livermore, California.
The burial is the culmination of a 12-year search by his relatives and others. https://t.co/CLzlAUSdrK
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) May 25, 2025
This isn’t an isolated misstep. Earlier this year, after the tragic mid-air helicopter-commercial plane collision near Reagan National Airport, which claimed 67 lives, the Post minimized the story—tucking it below the fold in favor of yet another barrage of anti-Trump content. As media critic Joe Concha rightly noted, the crash was not only “the worst airline tragedy in many years,” but it happened in the paper’s own backyard. And yet, it barely registered in print.
Now fast forward to Memorial Day. One would think that, if there were ever a day to set aside divisive activism and agenda-driven headlines, it would be this one. But instead, readers were met with stories centered on a criminal gang affiliate in El Salvador and a controversial anniversary that continues to be politicized by corporate media.
This Memorial Day, spare a thought for the nation’s fallen in overseas military cemeteries, @GeorgeWill writes. https://t.co/yTPcgmW2Z2
— Washington Post Opinions (@PostOpinions) May 26, 2025
Let’s be clear: no one is saying George Floyd’s death isn’t newsworthy. No one is denying that immigration and border issues matter. But Memorial Day is a national day of mourning. The decision to lead with politically charged figures while sidelining those who died wearing the uniform is a deliberate editorial choice—and it speaks volumes about what the Post values and what it doesn’t.
To their credit, the paper did cover a WWII aviator returning home 81 years after his death. But that story didn’t make the front page either. It’s hard not to see this as a calculated omission, especially given how often the Post editorial board rushes to publish moralizing op-eds about systemic injustice, climate change, or gender ideology.
Apparently, honoring the fallen just isn’t edgy enough.
