House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would have been a “stronger choice” to be Harris’ running mate, and that Harris may have been “reluctant” to choose the 51-year-old Shapiro as her running mate because he is “Jewish.”
“I think a big factor, obviously, was the reluctance to have a Jewish person as a running mate because of the divisions within the Democratic Party,” Johnson told The Hill on Tuesday. “There’s a pro-Palestinian wing in the Democratic Party, and in some cases a pro-Hamas wing.”
“Unfortunately for Josh Shapiro, I think that’s why he got overlooked because of where he came from.”
Shapiro’s name has frequently been mentioned as one of about a half-dozen candidates Harris is considering for her coalition, but Harris on Tuesday announced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate.
Former top vice presidential candidate expresses ‘enthusiastic support’ for Harris-Waltz after losing election
House Speaker Mike Johnson said Tuesday that Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro would have been a “stronger choice” to be Harris’ running mate, and that Harris may have been “reluctant” to choose the 51-year-old Shapiro as her running mate because he is “Jewish.” (Getty)
The two held their first rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday, where they were introduced by Shapiro.
Johnson said he did not want to describe the decision as anti-Semitic, “I just know that it was a big factor. I think it was clearly a big factor. I think they made an unfortunate political decision and I think they will regret it.”
Shapiro has come under attack from progressives for his stance on the Gaza war, and a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll released this week found him to have a significantly higher disapproval rating among Gen Z voters: 25% disapproval, higher than Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Walz, who both had 10% and 13%, respectively.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress in the House of Representatives chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, July 24, 2024. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
But while Shapiro has supported Israel during its war with Hamas, he has also criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, at one point calling him “one of the worst leaders in history.”
Kamala Harris picks Tim Waltz: Did she decide Josh Shapiro was too Jewish to be VP?
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro introduced Harris and Walz at their first joint rally in Philadelphia on Tuesday. (Hannah Beyer/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
New York Rep. Ritchie Torres on Tuesday pointed out the “hypocrisy” of anti-Israel protesters who took part in demonstrations against the Biden administration’s policies toward Israel but said they would vote for Harris unless she chose Shapiro.
Vice President Kamala Harris announced Tuesday that Gov. Tim Walz will be her running mate. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)
Click here to get the FOX News app
“Anti-Israel activists who have falsely accused the Biden-Harris Administration of funding ‘genocide’ are suddenly siding with VP Harris unless she chooses Governor Shapiro as her running mate,” Torres posted on X.
“Never mind that Governor Shapiro’s pro-Israel views are indistinguishable from those of Vice President Harris. These hypocrites are full of lies and their anti-Semitic dog whistles should not be given veto power over the President’s selection of his running mate.”
Johnson’s office, Shapiro’s office and the Harris campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
