{"id":2579039,"date":"2026-03-12T11:20:02","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T15:20:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-having-dinner-with-mahmoud-khalil-sent-a-signal-joe-concha\/"},"modified":"2026-03-12T11:21:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T15:21:34","slug":"mamdani-having-dinner-with-mahmoud-khalil-sent-a-signal-joe-concha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mamdani-having-dinner-with-mahmoud-khalil-sent-a-signal-joe-concha\/","title":{"rendered":"Mamdani having dinner with Mahmoud Khalil &#8216;sent a signal&#8217;: Joe Concha"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fmamdani-having-dinner-with-mahmoud-khalil-sent-a-signal-joe-concha%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2579039&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Washington Examiner reports on comments by Joe Concha criticizing New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani after Mamdani dined with Mahmoud Khalil, an anti-Israel protester who was detained by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-to-nominate-texas-sheriff-to-lead-ice\/\" title=\"Biden to Nominate Texas Sheriff to Lead ICE\">federal immigration officers<\/a>, the day after police stopped an attempted bombing near Gracie Mansion. Concha argued on Fox news that Mamdani \u201csympathizes with the wrong side,\u201d and suggested he should have honored the NYPD officers who helped prevent the attack. <\/p>\n<p>The piece notes that Mamdani, described as New York City\u2019s first Muslim mayor, celebrated Ramadan with Khalil, and it covers the bombing incident in which two suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, were later charged with providing material support to ISIS and using a weapon of mass destruction.It highlights the actions of NYPD officers Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. luis navarro,who helped avert the bombing,with Edwards praised for jumping a fence to detain a suspect. The article includes video, social media posts, and Mamdani\u2019s and Concha\u2019s remarks about Islamophobia and terrorism, along with a set of recommended stories.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mamdani having dinner with Mahmoud Khalil over NYPD &lsquo;sent a signal&rsquo;: Joe Concha<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2527596\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><em>Washington Examiner<\/em> columnist <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/joe-concha\/\">Joe Concha<\/a> said New York City Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/entertainment\/4487924\/cnns-abby-phillip-apologizes-for-saying-nyc-bombing-attempt-targeted-mamdani\/\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a> &ldquo;sympathizes&rdquo; with &ldquo;the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/hugo-gurdon-america-agrees-with-trump-on-immigration\/\" title=\"Hugo Gurdon: America agrees with Trump on immigration\">wrong side&#038;rdquo<\/a>; in the aftermath of an attempted bombing in the city.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani, New York City&rsquo;s first Muslim mayor, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/4486302\/zohran-mamdani-ramadan-mahmoud-khalil\/\">celebrated Ramadan with Mahmoud Khalil<\/a>, an anti-Israel protester who was detained by federal immigration officers last year, on Sunday. The mayor&rsquo;s dinner with Khalil was held a day after <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4484756\/explosive-device-pro-islam-counterprotester-nyc-mamdani\/\">police stopped an attempted bombing<\/a> near the mayor&rsquo;s residence, Gracie Mansion, arresting two suspects in the attempt.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4489495\/donald-trump-celebrates-rising-oil-prices-iran-war\/\">Trump pivots to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >celebrate rising oil prices<\/a>: &#8216;We make a lot of money&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4489479\/fbi-offer-5000-reward-drones-stolen-fort-campbell\/\">FBI offers $5,000 reward for information about drones stolen from Fort Campbell<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4489350\/trump-unsure-iran-war-nobel-peace-prize\/\">Trump doesn&#8217;t know if Iran war will nab him elusive Nobel Peace Prize<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>Concha said Thursday that Mamdani &ldquo;does not care about the optics&rdquo; of inviting Khalil over the NYPD officers.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This sent a signal to everybody in New York and around the country and the world, quite frankly, that this mayor sympathizes with, obviously, the wrong side here,&rdquo; Concha said on Fox News&rsquo;s <em>Fox &amp; Friends First<\/em>. &ldquo;If the mayor was going to have dinner with anyone, it should&rsquo;ve been any and all members of the New York City police department who literally saved lives, especially Chief Aaron Edwards, who we just heard from in that sound bite.&rdquo;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 640px; max-height: 360px; min-width: 320px; min-height: 180px; overflow: hidden;\">\n<div style=\"position: relative; width: 100%; padding-top: 56.25%;\"><iframe src=\"https:\/\/share.grabien.com\/share?id=3423264&amp;userid=11311&amp;usertype=user&amp;loginid=9421&amp;playercolor=%23000000&amp;playersize=auto&amp;code=92cbbc2af51aa8e7ac451e4a5e50ee1b\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: 0px;\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Edwards has gone viral for his role in Saturday&rsquo;s arrests, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NYPDnews\/status\/2031179948916904113?s=20\">as a photo of him jumping over a fence<\/a> to detain one of the bombing attempt suspects was shared by the NYPD&rsquo;s X account.<\/p>\n<p>Edwards told CBS News the only thing he was thinking as he jumped the barrier was &ldquo;catch the bad guy.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>    <iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/okTtUkS53ug?si=QPkG7yTxuDFTemeg\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>    <\/p>\n<p>Concha applauded Edwards for running toward &ldquo;possible death&rdquo; to protect New Yorkers. He emphasized that the first remarks Mamdani made after the bombing attempt <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4486824\/mamdani-decries-islamophobia-isis-protest-bombing\/\">were on &ldquo;Islamophobia&rdquo;<\/a> before addressing how the suspects were &ldquo;ISIS sympathizers.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you are a New Yorker right now, you don&rsquo;t feel very safe, Todd, Carley, as far as who&rsquo;s running the city and where his sympathies lie. That is certainly for certain,&rdquo; Concha said.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/restoring-america\/faith-freedom-self-reliance\/4487745\/mamdani-condemn-terrorism-host-terrorism-supporter-mahmoud-khalil-dinner\/\"><strong>YOU CAN&rsquo;T CONDEMN TERRORISM AND THEN HOST A TERRORISM SUPPORTER FOR DINNER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The two suspects in the bombing attempt, Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/crime\/4485746\/nyc-bombing-suspects-charges-terrorism-isis\/\">have been charged with providing material support to ISIS<\/a> and using a weapon of mass destruction.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>NYPD officer Sgt. Luis Navarro is also being praised for helping prevent the bombing, as he ran toward the lit explosive device. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/mayors-office\/news\/2026\/03\/transcript--mayor-mamdani-holds-press-conference-at-gracie-mansi\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/mayors-office\/news\/2026\/03\/transcript--mayor-mamdani-holds-press-conference-at-gracie-mansi\">Mamdani thanked Edwards and Navarro<\/a> for their service on Monday.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Some heroes wear capes &mdash; Chief Aaron Edwards wears blue. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/wYvDfSbxgM\">pic.twitter.com\/wYvDfSbxgM<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NYPDnews\/status\/2031179948916904113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 10, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p>Both officers were asked on Wednesday if they would do what they did outside Gracie Mansion again, and both said, &ldquo;Yes, without reservation.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Concha: Mamdani sides with the wrong side after attack<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2632,"featured_media":2579040,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-eqy64rcmr-1773318917980-e1773326774862.jpg?1773312384&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[73764,75635,56552,75636],"class_list":["post-2579039","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-joe-concha-2","tag-mahmoud-khalil-2","tag-mamdani","tag-political-dinner-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-collage-eqy64rcmr-1773318917980-e1773326774862.jpg?1773312384&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579039","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2632"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2579039"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579039\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2579043,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2579039\/revisions\/2579043"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2579040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2579039"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2579039"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2579039"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}