Mamdani Says He Will ‘Not’ Ban Snowball Fights After Police Incident
Mayor, are you willing to revise your statement regarding the
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has triggered a backlash from people associated with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement after calling out a “white supremacist” following a protest outside his residence on Saturday.
Mayor, are you willing to revise your statement regarding the
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani has triggered a backlash from people associated with the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement after calling out a “white supremacist” following a protest outside his residence on Saturday.
The Context
Images taken at the scenes outside Gracie Mansion and posted to social media showed smoke and an apparent improvised explosive device lying in the street.
The event was organized by Jake Lang, a conservative influencer who was pardoned for charges tied to the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
Zohran Mamdani is seen in New York on December 1, 2025.
New York City Comptroller Mark D. Levine, citing information from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, told Newsweek that the two individuals arrested for deploying the ignitable devices were part of a counter-protest, not Lang’s group.
Two Pennsylvanians, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters at a media conference on Saturday.
The men had not been charged by early morning Monday, according to CBS News. Newsweek contacted NYPD via email on for the latest on Monday morning.
Mamdani wrote on X about 1 p.m. ET on Sunday that “white supremacist Jake Lang” had organized the protest and said it was “rooted in bigotry and racism.” Mamdani then called out “the attempt to use an explosive device” as “criminal” and “reprehensible” but did not reference police reports that the devices were linked to counter protestors, nor did he name the individuals arrested in connection with the matter. The post has since been viewed more than 17 million times on X.
Newsweek reached out to Mamdani’s office outside of normal office hours on Monday.
New York City Comptroller Mark D. Levine, citing information from NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, told Newsweek that the two individuals arrested for deploying the ignitable devices were part of a counter-protest, not Lang’s group.
Two Pennsylvanians, 18-year-old Emir Balat and 19-year-old Ibrahim Kayumi, were arrested, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters at a media conference on Saturday.
The men had not been charged by early morning Monday, according to CBS News. Newsweek contacted NYPD via email on for the latest on Monday morning.
Mamdani wrote on X about 1 p.m. ET on Sunday that “white supremacist Jake Lang” had organized the protest and said it was “rooted in bigotry and racism.” Mamdani then called out “the attempt to use an explosive device” as “criminal” and “reprehensible” but did not reference police reports that the devices were linked to counter protestors, nor did he name the individuals arrested in connection with the matter. The post has since been viewed more than 17 million times on X.
Newsweek reached out to Mamdani’s office outside of normal office hours on Monday.
What To Know
Conservative political commentator Matt Walsh quoted Mamdani’s post on X on Sunday, writing: “Hi Zohran. What are the names of the people who threw the bomb? Why did you leave that out? And will you call for the culprits to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law? You left that out too. Weird. I wonder why.” Walsh’s post has been viewed more than 1.8 million times.
Author Hans Mahncke, who wrote the Swiftboating America book on the “Russiagate Fraud,” said on X on Sunday: “This is probably the most maliciously dishonest tweet ever posted. It would have been bad enough if Mamdani had tried to equivocate, blaming both sides. Instead, he deliberately implies that the attempted bombings were part of the protest, when in reality they were carried out by Islamic terrorists intent on turning a free speech event into a bloodbath. There is no question that a profoundly dangerous man is running New York City.” Mahncke’s post has since been viewed more than 300,000 times.
However, Mamdani also attracted support from his allies about the incident. New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X: “Incredibly grateful for New York’s Finest who ran toward danger yesterday to protect others. There is no place for violence of any kind in our State and those responsible for this cowardly act will be held accountable. State Police continue to assist NYPD with this investigation as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
Conservative political commentator Matt Walsh quoted Mamdani’s post on X on Sunday, writing: “Hi Zohran. What are the names of the people who threw the bomb? Why did you leave that out? And will you call for the culprits to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law? You left that out too. Weird. I wonder why.” Walsh’s post has been viewed more than 1.8 million times.
Author Hans Mahncke, who wrote the Swiftboating America book on the “Russiagate Fraud,” said on X on Sunday: “This is probably the most maliciously dishonest tweet ever posted. It would have been bad enough if Mamdani had tried to equivocate, blaming both sides. Instead, he deliberately implies that the attempted bombings were part of the protest, when in reality they were carried out by Islamic terrorists intent on turning a free speech event into a bloodbath. There is no question that a profoundly dangerous man is running New York City.” Mahncke’s post has since been viewed more than 300,000 times.
However, Mamdani also attracted support from his allies about the incident. New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on X: “Incredibly grateful for New York’s Finest who ran toward danger yesterday to protect others. There is no place for violence of any kind in our State and those responsible for this cowardly act will be held accountable. State Police continue to assist NYPD with this investigation as part of the Joint Terrorism Task Force.”
Update 3/9/26, 11:11 a.m. ET: NYPD Commissioner Tisch’s comments to reporters on Monday have been added.
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