The White House issued a blistering statement Thursday following President Donald Trump’s bizarre late night broadside calling Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro a ‘highly overrated Jewish Governor.’
‘It is Antisemitic, dangerous, and hurtful to attack a fellow American by calling out their Jewish faith in a derogatory way, or perpetuating the centuries-old smear of “dual loyalty,” said White House Principal Deputy Communications Director Herbie Ziskend in a statement issued to reporters.
‘President Biden and Vice President Harris believe we must come together as Americans to condemn and combat Antisemitism – and hate and bigotry of all kind,’ he said, in a comment that did not mention Trump specifically or explicitly identify the posting that prompted it.
It came after Trump tore into Shapiro for his speech at the Democratic National Convention, while identifying him by his religion and criticizing Harris and claiming she ‘hates’ Israel.
‘The highly overrated Jewish Governor of the Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Josh Shapiro, made a really bad and poorly delivered speech talking about freedom and fighting for Comrade Kamala Harris for President, yet she hates Israel and will do nothing but make its journey through the complexities of survival as difficult as possible, hoping in the end that it will fail. Judge only by her actions! ‘
‘Yet Shapiro, for strictly political reasons, refused to acknowledge that I am the best friend that Israel, and the Jewish people, ever had. I have done more for Israel than any President, and frankly, I have done more for Israel than any person, and it’s not even close. Shapiro has done nothing for Israel, and never will. Comrade Kamala Harris, the Radical Left Marxist who stole the nomination from Crooked Joe, will do even less. Israel is in BIG trouble!’
Trump’s statement tried to stir the pot on a complex and controversial issue after Shapiro did not get into Middle East politics during his convention speech. Instead, he tried to link Harris’ gauzy ‘freedom’ agenda to the nation’s early principles and patriots.
‘“E Pluribus Unum” You recognize this phrase from U.S. coins and the nation’s seal – out of many, one – it’s not merely a motto from the past, it’s our direction for the future. You see, you all give me hope and you all have the power,’ said Shapiro.
The charismatic governor who got passed over for Tim Walz after being on Harris’ vice presidential short list, declared in Philadelphia when Harris announced Tim Walz as her running mate, ‘I am proud of my faith.’
Trump blasted out the statement on Truth Social at 12:09 AM, while Democrats were wrapping up Day Three of a convention featuring testimonials by Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton. It has more than 4,000 reposts and 15,000 likes.
Asked why Trump identified Shapiro by his faith, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said ‘Kamala Harris talks out of both sides of her mouth to appease Hamas sympathizers while Democrats have emboldened antisemitic protests on college campuses. In contrast, President Trump has stood firmly with Israel, our greatest ally in the Middle East, reaching many historic achievements like the Abraham Accords, moving the United States Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, eliminating Qasem Soleimani, ending the horrific Iran Nuclear Deal, as well as combatting anti-Semitism in America and abroad.’
Trump’s comments came at a convention that has seen clashes and protests on the periphery, but not the major disruptions that organizers have feared. Protesters tried to unfurl a banner on the first day of the convention, and on Tuesday pro-Palestinian protesters clashed with police. The National Lawyers Guild said 72 people were arrested.
The convention featured emotional testimony by parents of 23-year old American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from Israel.
And ‘uncommitted’ delegates complained Wednesday that their request for a Palestinian convention speaker had been denied.