Rep. Ilhan Omar appeared on CNN’s The Lead on Wednesday, doing what she does best: portraying herself as a perpetual victim while blaming President Donald Trump for everything short of bad weather. According to Omar, Trump’s recent comments about Somalians are supposedly creating a “dangerous situation,” because — in her telling — his followers have “exhibited violence.”

At the White House earlier in the day, Trump didn’t mince words. He stated, “These Somalians have taken billions of dollars out of our country. They’ve taken billions and billions of dollars. They have a representative, Ilhan Omar, who they say married her brother. She should be thrown the hell out of our country. And most of those people, they have destroyed Minnesota.”

Naturally, CNN host Jake Tapper jumped in with the kind of comparison only CNN could find appropriate — comparing Trump’s comments to past stereotypes about Italians and the Mafia. Tapper wanted to know the “practical impact” on the Somali community when the president calls out wrongdoing. Because apparently acknowledging widespread issues is now off-limits unless it fits the media’s preferred narrative.

Omar, of course, claimed Trump’s words “create fear,” suggesting his supporters pose a “possible danger.” She said that anytime Trump criticizes her — even when he’s calling out legitimate concerns — she receives death threats and that “so many people… have been encouraged by the president’s words.” According to her, Somali communities across the country supposedly fear they’ll be attacked.

It’s the same pattern every time: Trump speaks plainly, the media panics, and Omar insists the sky is falling.

But here’s the upside: no amount of media spin or self-pity from career politicians can stop Americans from recognizing leadership when they see it — and that’s always something to feel good about.