Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was one of many audio system who took the stage Wednesday evening on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago. Shapiro targeted on the theme of freedom throughout his speech, drawing cheers from the group.
“Are you prepared to guard our rights?! Are you able to safe our freedoms?! And are you able to defend our democracy?! And are you able to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz?! America, let’s get to work,” Shapiro stated.
Whereas Shapiro’s speech drew loads of reward from Democrats, it additionally sparked criticism from Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Trump took to the social media platform Reality Social, calling Shapiro – who’s Jewish – a “extremely overrated Jewish Governor.”
“The extremely overrated Jewish Governor of the Nice Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, made a very dangerous and poorly delivered speech speaking about freedom and preventing for Comrade Kamala Harris for President, but she hates Israel and can do nothing however make its journey by means of the complexities of survival as tough as potential, hoping ultimately that it’ll fail. Choose solely by her actions,” Trump wrote. “But Shapiro, for strictly political causes, refused to acknowledge that I’m the most effective buddy that Israel, and the Jewish individuals, ever had. I’ve achieved extra for Israel than any President, and albeit, I’ve achieved extra for Israel than any particular person, and it’s not even shut. Shapiro has achieved nothing for Israel, and by no means will. Comrade Kamala Harris, the Radical Left Marxist who stole the nomination from Crooked Joe, will do even much less. Israel is in BIG hassle!”
Trump’s assertion sparked controversy, with some accusing the previous president of antisemitism. Whereas talking with NBC10’s Lauren Mayk on Thursday in response to the social media submit, Shapiro accused Trump of peddling “antisemitic tropes.”
“I imply first off, I feel it’s clear over the previous few weeks, Donald Trump is obsessive about me and obsessive about persevering with to spew hate and division in our politics. He’s somebody who has routinely peddled antisemitic tropes like this,” Shapiro stated.
Shapiro went on to foretell that Trump would lose to Democratic nominee Kamala Harris within the 2024 presidential election.
“Look, bear in mind, he’s the man who needed Doug Mastriano to have this job,” Shapiro stated. “He’s the man who has been repeatedly rejected by the voters of Pennsylvania. He himself misplaced in 2020. All of his handpicked candidates have misplaced. And I feel he’s heading for an additional loss, this time to Kamala Harris.”
Shapiro then referenced his personal speech Wednesday evening, evaluating it favorably to Trump’s rhetoric.
“I feel you all heard me discuss final evening on the DNC, the precise polar reverse of what Donald Trump is speaking about. I’m speaking about actual freedom,” Shapiro stated. “Bringing individuals collectively. Accepting people it doesn’t matter what they seem like, the place they arrive from, who they love, who they pray too and saying, ‘It is a place for you.’ That’s diametrically against all the pieces Donald Trump believes. And it’s clear that he’s going to proceed to be the hateful, divisive individual that he’s at all times been on this marketing campaign. And I feel, given his observe report, it’s clear he’s setting himself up for an additional defeat.”
Shapiro additionally stated he was most involved concerning the impression Trump’s statements have on Americans.
“Of us from Pennsylvania, people from across the nation who come to me and say, ‘I’m a proud American Jew. I’m happy with my religion and I’m now scared to follow my religion due to what Donald Trump and his allies maintain saying.’ So it’s much less about what they are saying about me however extra about how that hits different individuals,” Shapiro stated. “How that makes different individuals really feel. And Donald Trump is making different individuals really feel much less protected. Much less prideful in who they’re. This must be a rustic the place irrespective of who you’re, you belong and you’re feeling such as you belong. And Donald Trump is making an attempt to tear that away from individuals.”
When requested if he believes Trump is antisemitic, Shapiro once more accused the previous president of spreading “antisemitic tropes.”
“I feel Donald Trump has a protracted historical past of spewing antisemitic tropes, racist tropes,” Shapiro stated. “He assaults different individuals for who they’re, what they seem like, what they imagine in. And that’s not the way in which any American ought to act, not to mention somebody who needs to be the chief of this nation.”
Kamala Harris is scheduled to talk on the ultimate evening of the Democratic Nationwide Conference.