‘Tone Deaf’ CNN Misrepresents ‘ISIS-Inspired’ Attempted Bombing of Protesters as Attack on NYC Mayor

CNN anchor Abby Phillip falsely claimed that a terrorist attack on anti-Muslim protesters was aimed at New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a broadcast Tuesday night.

Phillip later posted an apology on X, where she stated, “The bombs thrown in New York City … was [sic] thrown into a crowd of anti-Muslim protesters and not specifically targeted at Mayor Mamdani. That wording was inaccurate and I didn’t catch it ahead of time. I apologize for the error.”

This “error” follows CNN’s “tone deaf” statement made about the attempted bombing on X. “Two Pennsylvania teenagers crossed into New York City Saturday morning for what could’ve been a normal day enjoying the city during abnormally warm weather,” the CNN post began.

CNN deleted the original post and issued a correction. In a follow-up statement on X, the news outlet said the post “failed to reflect the gravity of the incident thereby breaching the editorial standards we require for all our reporting.”

Ana Navarro also alleged the attack was “an attempt against Mayor Mamdani” during the CNN broadcast. 

Authorities said the two suspects in the attack, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, threw improvised explosive devices into a crowd of anti-Muslim protesters near Gracie Mansion on Saturday, March 7. Though neither IED detonated, they contained the highly volatile “Mother of Satan,” Triacetone Triperoxide. One of the suspects, Balat, shouted “Allahu Akbar!” as he threw one of the explosives at the protesters. 

“All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds … I pledge my allegiance [sic] to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu [sic] kuffar,” Balat wrote at the police station. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch stated, “Both suspects admitted that their actions on Saturday were because of ISIS” and Balat intended to “carry out an attack that was bigger than the 2013 bombing at the Boston Marathon.”

Libs of Tiktok said on X that CNN was “covering for ISIS terrorists who tried to bomb NYC” and that “CNN are enemies of our country.” Elon Musk added that “CNN needs a thorough house-cleaning.” 

After the bombing attempt, Mayor Mamdani began a press conference by focusing on “white supremacy.” He stated, “This was a vile protest rooted in white supremacy entitled, ‘Stop the Islamic takeover of New York City.’ I’m the first Muslim mayor of our city. Anti-Muslim bigotry is nothing new to me, nor is it anything new for the 1 million or so Muslim New Yorkers who know this city as our home.” 

When Mamdani shifted to the “act of terrorism” committed by Balat and Kayumi, he said, “New York City will never tolerate violence, whether from protests or counterprotests. Many of the counterprotesters met this display of bigotry peacefully, with a vision of a city that is welcoming to all. But a few did not.”