Jim Inhofe’s obituary triggers backlash from conservatives

Social media on Tuesday saw a fierce reaction from conservative users who were upset that news organizations mentioned former Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe’s stance on climate change in headlines about Inhofe’s death.

According to a statement from Inhofe’s family, the 89-year-old Republican died Tuesday morning after suffering a stroke on the Fourth of July holiday. Inhofe, who was part of Oklahoma’s political landscape for more than 50 years, was elected to a fifth term in the Senate in 2020 and resigned in early 2023, before his term was set to end on Jan. 3, 2027.

During his political career, Inhofe openly rejected scientific research that suggests human activities contribute to climate change. He once called climate change “the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people.”

After news of Inhofe’s death spread on media websites, some conservatives took to X, formerly Twitter, to denounce headlines that linked the announcement of his death to his views on climate change. Many people took particular offense to headlines from Politico and The New York Times.

Billy Grant, political director at Strategy Group, criticized Politico’s headline, which read: “Former Senator Jim Inhofe, who called climate change a ‘hoax,’ has died at 89.”

“These people are just disgusting. Senator Inhofe was a great man who did so much good for Oklahoma and the country,” Grant wrote on X. “This is a downright disgrace and @politico should apologize immediately!!!”

Darin Miller, communications director for Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, called Politico’s headline “highly offensive” in an X-post.

The audience Political reporter Matthew Folds wrote on X: “If you’re a legendary Republican, Politico will dance on your grave when you die. Rest in peace, Jim Inhofe. At some point, Republicans will shut down this media.”

A Politico spokesperson responded to Newsweek In an emailed statement, he wrote of the backlash: “Headlines are regularly A/B tested and rotated based on a number of factors, including engagement.”

As of the time this article appeared, Politico’s headline announcing Inhofe’s death now read, “Sen. Jim Inhofe dies at 89.” A subheadline read, “Oklahoma Republican had tremendous influence on environmental policy during his time in the Senate.”

In the meantime, The New York Times The headline read: “James M. Inhofe, Senator who denied climate change, has died at 89.”

Lawyer Gregg Re, who has worked for conservative media, was one of those on X who took exception to the Just‘ Headline.

“Both the NYT and Politico have chosen to mock the late Senator James Inhofe for his ‘climate change denial,'” Re wrote. “It’s important to understand why they hate him: He pointed out that none of the ‘catastrophes predicted by alarmists’ — since the 1970s — have come to pass.”

Newsweek turned to The New York Times by email on Tuesday for comment.

In addition to the headline-grabbing controversy, social media was also filled with memories of the senator, who began his political career after serving in the military in the late 1950s. After starting as a representative in the Oklahoma House of Representatives in 1967, Inhofe became a state senator in 1969. He served as mayor of Tulsa from 1978 to 1984. He served as a member of the House of Representatives in the late 1980s and early 1990s before becoming a senator.

Republican Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma called Inhofe a “true embodiment of a public servant” in a statement published on X.

“His long career in the United States House of Representatives and Senate is a testament to his strong moral compass and innate desire to improve his home state,” Lucas wrote, in part. “From his towering role as an advocate for Oklahoma’s military installations to improving infrastructure across the state, Jim Inhofe has made an impact on Oklahomans that will be felt for generations to come.”

“Jim Inhofe was a dedicated public servant, and his leadership as chairman of the Armed Services Committee was critical to improving our national defense,” Republican Senator Mitt Romney of Utah wrote on X.

Romney added: “I am grateful to have served alongside him in the Senate. Ann and I extend our prayers and condolences to his family and loved ones.”