WEST ORANGE, N.J. (VINnews) — 77 WABC morning host Sid Rosenberg issued an apology Wednesday for social media posts attacking New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Earlier this week, Rosenberg posted on X, calling Mamdani a “Radical Islam cockroach” and a “Jihadist America-hating Mayor” while urging President Donald Trump to stop meeting with and speaking positively about the newly elected mayor.

The remarks drew widespread criticism. The New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called for Rosenberg’s show to be canceled. Gov. Kathy Hochul labeled the comments “hateful, racist, and disgusting,” saying the language was dehumanizing. Sen. Chuck Schumer called the remarks “a disgusting display of bigotry and Islamophobia that should receive universal condemnation.” Even Jessica Tisch, the NYPD chief who is considered a friend of Rosenberg, condemned the comments.

When asked about the posts, Mamdani said he was not surprised. “This language is both painfully familiar to me as a Muslim New Yorker, but also as someone who was born in East Africa,” he said. “It is difficult to hear.”

On Wednesday, Rosenberg addressed the controversy during his morning show and in a statement. “To the mayor, and anyone else that I offended with my tweet on Saturday, I send out a heartfelt apology,” he said. He also deleted the original post. “Not nice to call somebody a bug, I get it, but it had nothing to do with anybody’s religion or faith or anything,” Rosenberg added. Guests on the show defended the post.

The controversy was amplified Tuesday when President Trump posted a photo of Mamdani next to the Declaration of Independence while at the Oval Office, which critics interpreted as a swipe against Rosenberg amid the ongoing dispute.

It remains unclear whether the mayor or city officials plan to respond to the apology.