Donald Trump sees himself as one of the victims of the crisis that has erupted over the delivery of explosive devices to those who have been critical of him.

Here is what White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said this week, according to Politico: “I think it is absolutely disgraceful that one of the first public statements we heard from CNN yesterday was to put the blame and responsibility of this despicable act on the president and on me personally,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Fox News on Thursday.

She subsequently told reporters that Trump is no more responsible for the attempted bombings than Sen. Bernie Sanders was responsible “for a supporter shooting up a baseball practice field last year,” referring to the June 2017 Alexandria, Va., shooting in which four people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) were shot.

I hear what Sanders is saying here. However, she and her boss — the president — need to fathom an essential element. Donald Trump needs to acknowledge that his fiery rhetoric has contributed to the nation’s sour political mood. He needs to acknowledge publicly his role in this national quarrel.

He refuses to do so. He blames the media for its negative and “false” coverage. He blames Democrats for fomenting hatred of Republicans and of himself.

Since the press aide brought up the Alexandria shooting by a left-leaning gunman and the grievous wound delivered to House Majority whip Steve Scalise, I want to remind y’all of this item.

Scalise’s terrible wound was greeted with expressions of prayer and support for him by his Democratic colleagues. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi led the call for his full recovery.

The president has yet to offer any expression of support directly to former Presidents Clinton and Obama. Or to the former secretary of state, Hillary Clinton, or to a former attorney general, Eric Holder, or to U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters. Or to CNN, the media outlet he routinely calls a purveyor of “fake news.”

Yes, the president has contributed to this crisis. What is “absolutely disgraceful” is his refusal to recognize it.