{"id":2588624,"date":"2026-04-08T15:54:30","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T19:54:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shapiro-tells-democrats-to-move-past-anti-trump-rhetoric-in-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T15:56:49","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T19:56:49","slug":"shapiro-tells-democrats-to-move-past-anti-trump-rhetoric-in-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/shapiro-tells-democrats-to-move-past-anti-trump-rhetoric-in-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Shapiro tells Democrats to move past anti-Trump rhetoric in 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fshapiro-tells-democrats-to-move-past-anti-trump-rhetoric-in-2026%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2588624&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro used rev.Al Sharpton\u2019s national Action Network convention to urge Democrats to move beyond anti-Trump messaging and focus on delivering tangible results for voters. He framed 2026 as potentially a national referendum on Donald Trump and argued Democrats should offer a clear governing vision-improving schools,public safety,economic chance,and individual rights-rather than merely opposing Trump.<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro emphasized the need to show how goverment can make people\u2019s lives better, citing his Pennsylvania record as a model. He also criticized Trump-era foreign policy, calling the Iran strike decision a war of choice and arguing that current actions have weakened U.S. security. The governor spoke about safety and fighting divisive rhetoric, recounting a personal experience of a violent attack at the governor\u2019s residence to stress the responsibility of political leaders to lower tensions.<\/p>\n<p>the event also drew attention to potential Democratic contenders for 2028, with figures like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg expected to appear. Shapiro did not commit to a presidential run but signaled an interest in shaping the party\u2019s future direction. On fundraising, he reported $10 million raised in the first three months of 2026, leaving about $36 million in the bank, well ahead of his likely Republican challenger, Stacy Garrity.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Shapiro tells Democrats to move past anti-Trump rhetoric at Al Sharpton&rsquo;s confab<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2555093\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Pennsylvania <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/josh-shapiro\/\">Gov. Josh Shapiro<\/a> on Wednesday urged <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democrats <\/a>to move beyond anti-Trump messaging and focus on delivering results for voters.<\/p>\n<p>At Rev. Al Sharpton&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/nationalactionnetwork.net\/\">National Action Network convention<\/a>, Shapiro laid out what he believes Democrats must do to win back voters ahead of the midterm elections and beyond. Shapiro, who is up for reelection this year, said 2026 had the possibility to be &ldquo;a national referendum on Donald Trump&rdquo; that boosts turnout even in noncompetitive states.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If you are upset and angered &hellip; by the chaos and the cruelty and the corruption that we see every day, well, you got to get out and vote,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>But Shapiro warned Democrats against defining themselves solely in opposition to Trump, arguing the party must offer a clear governing vision.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our affirmative vision &hellip; can&rsquo;t just be about banging Donald Trump every day,&rdquo; Shapiro said. &ldquo;It has to be about what we are going to do to make people&rsquo;s lives better.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He pointed to his own governing approach in Pennsylvania, centered on improving schools, public safety, economic opportunity, and protecting individual rights, as a model.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I believe that showing people that government can make their lives a little bit better &hellip; builds a real coalition,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro&rsquo;s appearance comes as several Democrats eyeing a possible 2028 presidential run are attending the convention, a gathering that has long served as a key venue for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/james-carville-says-dems-should-give-up-on-florida\/\" title=\"James Carville Says Dems Should Give Up on Florida\">engaging black voters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Other Democrats seen as possible 2028 contenders are also set to appear at the convention throughout the week, including former Vice President Kamala Harris and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.<\/p>\n<p>Pressed by Sharpton on whether he is considering a presidential run, Shapiro stopped short of a direct answer but signaled interest in shaping the party&rsquo;s future.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I want to be a part of that debate,&rdquo; he said, referring to a broader conversation about the Democratic Party&rsquo;s direction after the midterm elections.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He argued Democrats must engage in &ldquo;an honest conversation&rdquo; about their priorities and vision for the country, rather than simply attempting to restore pre-Trump norms.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;What we need to do is not rebuild what was broken down, but build something better,&rdquo; Shapiro said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>On the topic of foreign policy, Shapiro offered criticism firmly in the mainstream of fellow Democrats.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This was a war of choice by the president of the United States, a war I did not support,&rdquo; Shapiro said. &ldquo;The president never came to the American people and said, this is our objective &hellip; and if you don&rsquo;t know why you went in, you sure as heck don&rsquo;t know when it&rsquo;s time to come out.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro argued the administration&rsquo;s actions have made the United States less secure, pointing to uncertainty around Iran&rsquo;s nuclear program and disruptions to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/milloy-al-gore-got-climate-wars-all-wrong\/\" title=\"Milloy: Al Gore Got Climate Wars All Wrong\">global energy routes<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I view all of these issues through the prism of what is in the best interest of America&rsquo;s national security,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The manner in which the president has gone about this &hellip; makes us less safe, not more safe.&rdquo;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Josh Shapiro, Governor of Pennsylvania, speaks during the National Action Network (NAN) Convention in New York, Wednesday, April 8, 2026. (AP Photo\/Angelina Katsanis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Iran critique was part of a broader indictment of Trump&rsquo;s leadership, which Shapiro described as chaotic and dangerous, particularly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/love-wins-trump-supporters-detractors-in-ny-promote-peaceful-disagreement-amid-rising-political-tensions\/\" title=\"\u2018Love Wins\u2019: ... Supporters, Detractors in NY Promote Peaceful Disagreement Amid Rising Political Tensions\">amid rising political tensions<\/a> at home.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The kind of chaos Donald Trump brings to everything he touches,&rdquo; Shapiro said, arguing that <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >rhetoric targeting religious groups contributes<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/top-former-u-s-officials-warn-about-bidens-military-agenda-suggests-that-biden-may-be-a-pushover\/\" title=\"Top Former U.S. Officials Warn About Biden\u2019s Military Agenda: \u2018Suggests That Biden May Be A Pushover\u2019\">real-world threats<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>He tied that concern to his own experience, recounting a violent attack on his family at the governor&rsquo;s residence last year during Passover and warning that political leaders bear responsibility for lowering tensions.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When you attack people based on what they look like or how they pray, you make everyone less safe,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite talk of a 2028 presidential run, Shapiro is facing voters in Pennsylvania. The race to date appears to heavily favor his reelection as governor.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4476023\/shapiro-blasts-trump-iran-strikes\/\"><strong>SHAPIRO BLASTS TRUMP&rsquo;S DECISION TO STRIKE IRAN BUT ADMITS REGIME CHANGE NEEDED<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Shapiro <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.campaignfinanceonline.pa.gov\/Pages\/ShowReport.aspx\">raised $10 million in the first three months of 2026<\/a>, according to campaign finance records, setting a new benchmark for fundraising in a Pennsylvania gubernatorial race. The haul far outpaces early receipts from his expected Republican challenger, State Treasurer Stacy Garrity.<\/p>\n<p>Shapiro began the year with $30 million on hand and reported just over $4.5 million in spending, leaving him with roughly $36 million in the bank as the race unfolds. Garrity, by contrast, started the year with just over $1 million, spent more than half of it, and now has about $1.5 million cash on hand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Shapiro urges Democrats to focus on results, not Trump<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2657,"featured_media":2588625,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26098599255792.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[70169,77423,3685,5894,3950],"class_list":["post-2588624","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-2026-elections-2","tag-ben-shapiro-2","tag-democrats","tag-politics","tag-rhetoric"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/AP26098599255792.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588624","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2657"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2588624"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2588628,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2588624\/revisions\/2588628"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2588625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2588624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2588624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2588624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}