HARRISBURG, Pa. — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Thursday defended his criticism of Vice President JD Vance, saying his remarks about antisemitism and a Holocaust Remembrance Day post that did not explicitly mention Jews were consistent with calls for less inflammatory political rhetoric.
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Shapiro, who is Jewish, appeared on Special Report with Bret Baier on Fox News, where anchor Bret Baier asked whether Shapiro’s criticism of Vance — saying he “offered comfort” to antisemites on the right — matched his stated goal of toning down political rhetoric. Shapiro stood by his comments, saying they reflected a broader pattern of Vance’s positions on far-right politics.
Earlier this week, Shapiro told NBC News that Vance’s social media post on X, which marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with photos of a visit to the Dachau concentration camp memorial in Germany, was troubling because it did not specifically mention Jews or the Nazis responsible for the genocide. “The fact that JD Vance couldn’t bring himself to acknowledging that six million Jews were killed by Hitler and by the Nazis speaks volumes,” Shapiro said.
Vance’s post included general reflections on human cruelty and remembrance and concluded with a pledge that “we promise never again to go down the darkest path,” but critics said the omission of Jewish victims was notable. Jewish advocacy groups and commentators across the political spectrum expressed concern over the post.
Shapiro, who is promoting his memoir Where We Keep the Light: Stories From a Life of Service, has repeatedly highlighted his Jewish faith and the importance of confronting rising antisemitism in public life.
A spokesperson for Vance dismissed Shapiro’s remarks as politically motivated and hypocritical, noting that Shapiro’s own Holocaust Remembrance Day message also did not explicitly mention Jews, though it addressed antisemitism broadly. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The exchange underscores heightened political tensions over how elected officials address antisemitism and the memory of the Holocaust. Shapiro and Vance are both viewed as potential contenders in the 2028 presidential election.
J D seems to be problematic
Two weeks ago when Ms Good, mom of 3, was murdered, JD Vonce said ICE has “absolute immunity”. Yesterday in a taped speech, he said he didn’t say it! JD Vonce lacks any integrity, lies and pushes Jew-hating poison to his volk.
A Josh Shapiro presidency is very scary to me. If you think anti-Semitism on the Right is bad now, wait until there is a Liberal Jewish Democrat President who once volunteered in the IDF.
The Pennsylvania senator has spoken more about the radical
Left and anti semitic wing of the Democratic Party then the Jewish governor
He was asked why he thinks high ranking members in the Harris campaign, when vetting him for VP slot on the ticket, asked him if he had ever been an Israeli operative. He answered “ l don’t know.” Shapiro’s hypocrisy stinks.
JD Vance is just generally a bad person. He’s an actual racist, not an “everything is racist these days” racist.
If shapiro runs in 28 he has my vote despite being a democrat and I hope all frum jews agree. We vote for who will be good for us.
Have any defend his own wife against a 5’3” screeching Latino bottom boy. Yes. Fuentes is gay, and a bottom. I know the type.
Vance cannot defend his own wife and kids against a 5’3” screeching Latino bottom boy. Fuentes is obv gay and a bottom.
Anybody who claims to care about antisemitism but shares a party with Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib should not be taken seriously.