Josh Shapiro, in his own words, on political violence and antisemitism

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro Opens Up About Faith, Politics and Security Threats

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is navigating a complex political landscape as he discusses his Jewish faith amid rising antisemitism and ongoing tensions over Israel’s war in Gaza. The Democratic governor, whose political trajectory could potentially lead to presidential consideration, recently shared his experiences balancing public service with personal security concerns.

Shapiro revealed the lasting impact of an April 2025 attack on his home that endangered his family while they slept. Though he escaped physical harm unlike other political figures who were killed or injured in attacks, the emotional toll persists.

“To me, it’s less dealing with the emotions as governor, to be honest with you, it’s far more dealing with it as a dad and a husband,” Shapiro said. “This idea that I’m doing this work that I love, that I find great purpose in, that I’ve dedicated my life to, and that thing I love to do brought my family close to death—that’s a hard thing to work through as a dad.”

The governor didn’t mince words when addressing antisemitism in American politics, emphasizing that it exists across the political spectrum.

“Antisemitism is a very real problem in both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party,” Shapiro stated. He criticized Republican figures like J.D. Vance for providing platforms to controversial speakers without condemnation, saying such actions allow antisemitism to “fester on the right.” He stressed that leaders at all levels have a responsibility to confront bigotry regardless of political affiliation.

Shapiro has faced criticism from progressive members of his own party over his stance on Israel’s military actions in Gaza, with some detractors labeling him “Genocide Josh.” His approach to these critics involves distinguishing between two conversations.

“One on antisemitism and hatred and bigotry—that’s a black and white issue. There’s no nuance, and we should all be able to agree that antisemitism is wrong,” he explained. “The second conversation is over what should the policy of the United States be in the Middle East. And on that, it’s full of nuance, and we can have honest disagreements.”

The governor emphasized that his Middle East policy positions are guided by U.S. national interests, including security and economic considerations. He advocates for “a safe and secure Israel side by side with a safe and secure Palestinian state, where Palestinian leadership recognizes Israel’s right to exist.”

During Vice President Kamala Harris’s vice-presidential selection process, Shapiro was reportedly asked if he was a “double agent for Israel,” an incident he documented in his book without explicitly labeling the question as antisemitic. When pressed about whether this indicated antisemitism among Harris’s team, Shapiro declined to speculate on motivations, saying only that those involved would need to answer such questions themselves.

Shapiro also reflected on how his faith informs his view of former President Trump, though he framed his criticism in broader terms of shared humanity rather than specifically Jewish values.

“My faith teaches me to love thy neighbor. My faith teaches me to have respect for others. And this is a president who at every turn scapegoats others, disrespects others, attacks others,” Shapiro said. “I don’t think that he’s violating the tenants of my faith as an American Jew, I think he’s frankly violating the tenants of our shared faith and our shared humanity.”

The governor acknowledged facing faith-motivated threats regularly, noting a recent arrest in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, of an individual for making terroristic threats and stalking his family. Despite these challenges, Shapiro maintains a positive outlook.

“There’s just people bringing a lot of light and joy and who respect their neighbors no matter what their faith is,” he concluded. “So in some ways, even though the threats are increasing, the light I see and the joy I find in others is also increasing, and that allows me to frankly ignore the noise and ignore the hate and focus on the goodness in people.”