New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has created a feedback loop in which he excuses or defends radical Islamists and their allies and then exploits their actions to paint himself as a perpetual victim of society, even when he isn’t the target of the hateful attacks that happen under his watch.

Two people were arrested after trying to set off bombs at a protest outside of Mamdani’s official residence. Here is how Mamdani framed the protest: “Yesterday, white supremacist Jake Lang organized a protest outside Gracie Mansion rooted in bigotry and racism. Such hate has no place in New York City. It is an affront to our city’s values and the unity that defines who we are.”