Republicans have been leveraging left-wing protests against Israel to influence American Jews’ voting behavior towards their party. Despite expectations of significant demonstrations at the Democratic National Convention, the protests have largely fallen flat, leading to frustrations among some party members. This context appears to have prompted Donald Trump to target Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
In a loosely constructed post on social media, Trump branded Shapiro as the “highly overrated Jewish Governor of Pennsylvania,” criticizing him for failing to recognize Trump’s support for Israel and the Jewish community, claiming Shapiro has contributed nothing to Israel and never will.
Examining Trump’s language reveals several points of interest. The term “overrated” is commonly used by Trump to discredit popular figures when he cannot directly label them unpopular. The phrase “Jewish Governor” offers an unusual characterization for an official whose title is merely “governor.” No one refers to Trump as a former Gentile President.
Moreover, Trump’s reaction to Shapiro’s speech highlights a misunderstanding; he criticized Shapiro for not thanking him for his support of Israel, despite the fact that Shapiro’s address did not touch on Israel, foreign affairs, or Jewish identity.
While Shapiro is free to discuss matters pertaining to Israel, as governor of Pennsylvania, he holds the prerogative to address a variety of topics beyond his Jewish identity. Trump’s perspective seems to suggest that American Jews should prioritize loyalty to Israel and to him, disregarding the fact that they can possess diverse opinions on Middle Eastern issues alongside other interests.
In expressing his grievance over what he perceives as Shapiro’s lack of gratitude, Trump appears to have overlooked the Republican narrative that positions Shapiro as an outstanding vice-presidential candidate, with his exclusion explained solely by antisemitism. Instead, Trump finds himself attacking Shapiro as an overrated failure who hasn’t fulfilled the expectations associated with his role as the Jewish Governor.