Shapiro Says Vance ‘Offered Comfort’ To Right‑Wing Antisemites After Holocaust Post Omits Jews

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro on Tuesday accused Vice President JD Vance of “offering comfort” to right‑wing antisemites after Vance posted a Holocaust Remembrance Day message on X that did not explicitly name Jewish victims. The post included photos of Vance beneath Hebrew wording that translates to “Never Forget” from a visit to the Dachau concentration camp, but drew criticism for failing to mention the roughly 6 million Jews murdered by Nazi Germany and its collaborators.

Shapiro’s Response

Shapiro, a practicing Jew and a 2028 Democratic presidential contender, said he had not yet seen Vance’s post but that the omission was consistent with what he called Vance’s broader pattern of coziness with far‑right figures and parties. "The fact that JD Vance couldn’t bring himself to acknowledging that 6 million Jews were killed by Hitler and by the Nazis speaks volumes," Shapiro said, adding that leaders must be explicit when memorializing the Holocaust so the facts are recited and remembered.

“It is not a surprise to me, however, given the way in which he has openly supported the AfD party, given the way he openly embraces neo‑Nazis and neo‑Nazi political parties, given the way in which he has offered comfort, really, to the antisemites on the right who are infecting the Republican Party.” — Gov. Josh Shapiro

Vance’s Camp And Responses

A Vance spokesperson called Shapiro’s remarks “a next level hypocritical deflection,” noting Shapiro’s own Holocaust Remembrance Day post did not explicitly mention violence against Jews even as it addressed antisemitism. Allies of Vance, including leaders in the Republican Jewish Coalition, defended the vice president and said critics were reading too much into a solemn post that included images from Dachau.

Conservative and Jewish publications and groups, however, criticized the omission. Tablet Magazine said Vance’s commemoration “manages to avoid mentioning Jews or condemning Nazis.” Halie Soifer of the Jewish Democratic Council of America said it “takes effort” to issue such a statement without mentioning "six million Jews," while some conservatives compared criticisms of Vance to omissions in other public statements and called the backlash unfair.

Context: Antisemitism Debate Within the Right

The episode comes amid broader debates over antisemitism inside the Republican coalition. Some party figures, including Sen. Ted Cruz, have warned about rising antisemitic currents among certain younger conservatives and commentators. Vance has publicly condemned antisemitism, saying "antisemitism, and all forms of ethnic hatred, have no place in the conservative movement," and he has denounced individual figures such as Nick Fuentes in interviews.

Shapiro’s Memoir, Security Concerns And Broader Themes

Shapiro is on a book tour for his memoir, Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service. He has woven his Jewish faith and its role in his life throughout the book and has recounted threats and violence targeting him and his family, including a firebombing of his official residence last year. Authorities say the attacker later told 911 he was angered by Shapiro’s stance on Israel and Gaza; the attacker pleaded guilty.

At a recent event in New York, Shapiro urged leaders across politics, media and business to take a firm stand against antisemitism. “There is antisemitism and hate on the political left and on the political right,” he said, stressing the importance of explicit condemnations and Holocaust education, which he has expanded in Pennsylvania.

Why This Matters

The exchange underscores how wording and emphasis in public commemorations can quickly become politicized, especially on sensitive topics like the Holocaust. Critics say explicit references matter to honor victims and counter rising antisemitism; defenders caution against reading political motives into solemn remembrances. The debate also reflects wider tensions about the influence of far‑right actors in contemporary American politics.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com.