Mainstream Media Faces Backlash Over 'Disgraceful' Coverage of Boulder Terrorist's Family

Mainstream media outlet USA Today is facing mounting backlash both online and from the White House over its coverage of the family of Mohamed Sabry Soliman, the primary suspect in a firebombing terror attack targeting Jewish Americans in Boulder, Colorado. Critics have denounced the reporting as "disgraceful," accusing the publication of focusing on the potential deportation of Soliman's family rather than the victims of the attack, which left more than a dozen people injured, including an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor.

The controversy erupted after USA Today published an article with an initial headline emphasizing the hardship faced by Soliman’s teenage daughter, Habiba Soliman, who now faces deportation along with the rest of her family. The piece described her aspirations to study medicine in the United States and lamented the impact of her father's alleged crimes on her future. Following a wave of intense criticism, including from lawmakers and prominent commentators, USA Today updated the article’s headline and subheading, noting that it had been "recast and updated with new information."

Mohamed Sabry Soliman, a 45-year-old Egyptian national, had entered the U.S. during the Biden administration and reportedly overstayed his visa. He has been charged with multiple offenses after allegedly attacking peaceful Jewish demonstrators in Boulder using Molotov cocktails. Federal authorities have since revoked the family's visas, placing them in custody as they undergo expedited removal proceedings. Officials are also investigating whether Soliman’s family members had any knowledge of or involvement in the attack.

DHS Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed via a public statement that the investigation seeks to determine the extent, if any, of the family’s awareness or support of the crimes. "Mohamed's despicable actions will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but we're also investigating to what extent his family knew about this horrific attack," Noem stated. Authorities have indicated that if evidence emerges implicating family members in support of the attack, further legal actions will follow.

Critics quickly condemned USA Today's portrayal of the suspect’s family, arguing it overshadowed the suffering of attack victims. Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming, labeled the article "disgraceful," asserting, "Instead of carrying water for the family of an illegal alien terrorist, USA Today should spend some time and ink talking about the victims of this heinous crime." Conservative commentators and other public figures echoed these sentiments, questioning the editorial priorities of mainstream news outlets.

An official White House spokesperson also weighed in, describing the coverage as an attempt to elicit sympathy for the family of a suspected terrorist rather than focusing on those harmed. "USA Today should apologize to the victims and their families for this disgraceful piece attempting to garner sympathy for a terrorist’s family," said the spokesperson.

While the aftermath of the Boulder attack has galvanized calls for stricter immigration enforcement and a renewed focus on public safety, the debate over media representation of suspects’ families continues to rage. Lawmakers and Jewish organizations alike have called for compassion toward the victims and strong condemnation of anti-Semitic violence, highlighting the urgent need for responsible journalism amid ongoing investigations into the attack and its wider ramifications.