Shapiro Rips Trump For ‘Routinely Peddled Anti-Semitic Tropes’ After Eyebrow Raising Attack

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) was asked on Thursday to respond to former President Donald Trump calling him an “overrated Jewish governor” on social media on Wednesday — following his address to the Democratic National Convention.

“The former president, posted about you specifically and called you an ‘overrated Jewish governor from Pennsylvania.’ Also said that you had not done anything for Israel, and yet he had. What’s your response?” asked a reporter in a clip shared online by a local Pennsylvania journalist.

“I mean, first off, I think it’s clear over the last few weeks, Donald Trump is obsessed with me and obsessed with continuing to spew hate and division in our politics. He’s someone who’s routinely peddled anti-Semitic tropes like this,” Shapiro replied, adding:

And look, remember, he’s the guy who wanted Doug Mastriano to have this job. He’s the guy who has been repeatedly rejected by the voters of Pennsylvania. He himself lost in 2020. All of his handpicked candidates have lost. And I think he’s heading for another loss, this time to Kamala Harris.

I think y’all heard me talk last night at the DNC. The exact polar opposite of what Donald Trump is talking about. I’m talking about real freedom. Bringing people together, accepting folks no matter what they look like, where they come from, who they love, who they pray to, saying, this is a place for you. That’s diametrically opposed to everything Donald Trump believes. And it’s clear that he is going to continue to be that hateful, divisive person that he’s always been in this campaign. And I think given his track record, it’s clear he’s set himself up for another defeat.

“Why do you think he is talking about you?” the reporter pressed.

“I answered your question for him. I mean, he’s clearly obsessed to see you sitting on the couch watching this stuff. I don’t know why he is, but I think what’s clear is that his words continue to be divisive. They continue to be hateful, and they continue to peddle anti-Semitic tropes,” Shapiro repeated.

Gov. Josh Shapiro responds to Donald Trump’s anti-semitic post on truth social moments ago. pic.twitter.com/oL7klHVMbk

— Sean Kitchen (@pennslinger) August 22, 2024

Trump, whose daughter converted to Judaism, has long suggested that American Jews share dual loyalty to Israel and the U.S. and that Jews who vote for Democrats are therefore disloyal. Trump has been repeatedly accused of spreading such anti-Semitism and condemned by hate monitors. Jonathan Greenblatt, the head of the ADL said in December of 2021, “Once again, former President Trump has linked his lack of strong support among most US Jews to their feelings about Israel and used classic antisemitic stereotypes about Israeli and Jewish control of Congress and the press to bolster his argument.

“It’s sad that once again we have to restate this point, but the vast majority of American Jews support and have some type of connection to Israel, regardless of which political candidate they vote for.

“Let me be clear: insinuating that Israel or the Jews control Congress or the media is antisemitic, plain and simple. Unfortunately, this is not the first time he has made these offensive remarks,” Greenblatt said in response to Trump slamming Jewish Democrats and raging that “they’re Jewish people that run the New York Times” and declaring the newspaper “hates Israel”.

Watch the clip above.

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