Shapiro calls out Trump over selective outrage on violence
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Shapiro at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh in July. Photo: Brian Kaiser/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Gov. Josh Shapiro said Tuesday that leaders, including the president, must denounce political violence across the board. "That shouldn't be hard to do."
Why it matters: Political violence is on the rise — targeting liberals like Shapiro and Minnesota lawmakers as well as conservatives like President Trump and commentator Charlie Kirk.
What he's saying: Shapiro, at a press conference held at the Eradicate Hate Global Summit in Pittsburgh, said he was worried about potential escalating violence following Kirk's killing, and said Trump had failed a "leadership and morality test."
- "During moments like this, I believe we have a responsibility to be clear and unequivocal in calling out all forms of political violence, and making clear it is all wrong. That shouldn't be hard to do," he said during a 25-minute speech.
- "Unfortunately, some — from the dark corners of the internet, all the way to the Oval Office — want to cherry-pick which instances of political violence they want to condemn. Listen, doing that only further divides us, and it makes it harder to heal."
Flashback: The governor's residence in Harrisburg was firebombed in April when Shapiro and his family were sleeping inside. Everyone was evacuated safely and unharmed.
- A suspect in the attack was arrested later in April. He allegedly told police he would've beaten Shapiro with a hammer if he encountered him.
But Shapiro argued that the threat goes well beyond Pennsylvania — pointing to Trump's selective response to attacks across the country.
Context: Trump issued a proclamation honoring Kirk — a Trump ally — following his killing and ordered the White House and federal flags at half-staff, and his office held a memorial service for Kirk.
- When asked on Monday about Minnesota Democratic state House leader Melissa Hortman — who was assassinated in June along with her husband — Trump said he was not familiar with her.
- Shapiro ordered state flags lowered following Kirk's death and called for "moral clarity" after Hortman's death.
- Trump told reporters on Monday that he would have ordered to lower flags following Hortman's killing if Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, had asked.
- He didn't call Minnesota lawmakers after the killings.
The bottom line: In closing, Shapiro referenced the 2018 Tree of Life mass shooting and Pittsburgh's strong response to condemn the antisemitic attack, and said that should serve as a good example of how all Americans should react to these violent moments.
- "We are stronger than hate. I believe that feeling is not something just reserved for yinzers or those of us from across Pennsylvania. I believe that in all America, we are stronger than hate."