Pennsylvania’s Democratic Governor Josh Shapiro found himself in the midst of a political storm after autographing a missile destined for the war in Ukraine. While Shapiro championed his support for Ukraine, conservative commentators and politicians were quick to condemn his actions, arguing that the U.S. should prioritize peace instead of fueling the conflict. The controversy highlighted the stark divide in American politics surrounding the war and the role of the U.S. in the conflict.
Shapiro, considered a potential running mate for Vice President Kamala Harris, proudly posted a video of himself signing the missile at the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant (SCAAP) in President Biden’s hometown. He captioned the video, “We must all do our part in the fight for freedom – from the workers in Scranton who make Pennsylvania the arsenal of democracy to the brave Ukrainian soldiers protecting their country. We stand with Ukraine in their just defense of their homeland in the face of Russian aggression.”
However, the right-wing response was swift and scathing. Conservative commentator David Harris Jr. declared that the situation showed “Democrats are now the party of war, and they’re proud of it. Sad.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., echoed this sentiment, stating, “The U.S. should be negotiating peace not fueling war. I am 100% against this and so are most Americans. The U.S. is funding the Ukraine Gov at $1 billion/month to keep it running and funding most of the war by providing weapons, ammo, and equipment.”
Critics further pointed to the contrasting nature of Shapiro’s actions with his past criticisms of former President Trump. Philadelphia commentator Joey Mannarino remarked on X, “Zelenskyy just essentially endorsed Kamala in Pennsylvania while with Josh Shapiro autographing ammunition. He called Trump and Vance ‘radical’. He also said Trump has no idea how to end the war. How is this not some sort of violation from a man who we are funding?”
While Shapiro and Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., were touring the ordnance plant, chaos was erupting in Philadelphia. Right-wing commentator and senior editor at Human Events, Jack Posobiec, shared video of the city engulfed in illegal “car meets” and the subsequent police response. The mayhem involved arrests, fireworks, car stunts, injuries to police officers, and the looting of an Apple Store. Posobiec highlighted this chaos, stating on X, “This was going on in Philadelphia while Josh Shapiro was taking selfies with artillery shells and Zelensky.”
Shapiro, in an official statement, emphasized Pennsylvania’s role as the “birthplace of American freedom” and asserted the state’s solidarity with Ukraine in their fight against “naked aggression.” He also announced an agreement between Pennsylvania and the Ukrainian state of Zaporizhizhia to “foster collaboration for years to come.” Pennsylvania Secretary of Community & Economic Development Rick Siger explained that the pact would “help support the future economic revitalization of Ukraine, while boosting our economy and creating jobs for Pennsylvanians.”
The controversy surrounding Shapiro’s autographing of a missile is likely to continue as the war in Ukraine unfolds and political tensions remain high. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the deeply polarized political landscape in the U.S. and the varying perspectives on the role of the country in international conflicts.
