- Trump criticizes the Jewish governor and showcases his self-praise
Presidential candidate from the Republican party, Donald Trump, is once again under fire for allegations of antisemitism. He made a disparaging remark about Pennsylvania's Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, who is of Jewish descent. On his Truth Social platform, Trump labeled Shapiro as an "exaggeratedly praised Jewish governor" who "hasn't accomplished anything for Israel and never will."
Currently, Trump boasts about being "the finest ally Israel and the Jewish community has ever known." He asserted, "I've accomplished more for Israel than any other president, and truthfully, more than anyone else." In the same vein, he criticized his Democratic competitor, Kamala Harris, characterizing her as a "comrade" and "extreme left-wing Marxist."
When questioned about Trump's statement by the press, Shapiro responded, "He often disseminates antisemitic stereotypes." According to Shapiro, Trump's speech is inflammatory and "overflowing with hostility."
An unnamed spokesperson for the White House issued a statement that did not reference Trump specifically, stating that belittling an American citizen by mentioning their Jewish faith in an offensive manner is "antisemitic, harmful, and dangerous."
Shapiro was a contender for the Democratic vice-presidential nominee alongside Harris. In the end, Minnesota's governor, Tim Walz, was selected for the position. In the 2022 gubernatorial election, Shapiro, now 51, emerged victorious against Trump's chosen candidate, Doug Mastriano, garnering him admiration within his party.
Previously, Trump has made comparable remarks about Jews. At a rally earlier this year, he stated, "Any Jew who votes for a Democrat or Biden needs a mental health evaluation."
Despite his claims of being a strong ally for Israel and the Jewish community, Donald Trump's disparaging remarks about Josh Shapiro, the democratic governor of Pennsylvania, continue to raise concerns about antisemitism. In response to Trump's labeling of Shapiro as an "exaggeratedly praised Jewish governor," Shapiro accused Trump of disseminating antisemitic stereotypes.
