The campaign for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sought to quietly "kneecap" Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in the days leading up to Kamala Harris' much-anticipated choosing of Tim Walz as her running mate.
Trump's team knew it did not want the more moderate Shapiro to become the Democratic vice presidential candidate — and formed a "de facto alliance with the enemy of its enemy": the progressive left, The Bulwark's Marc Caputo reported Tuesday.
An adviser to Trump, who remained anonymous, told the publication that they "amplified the leftists on Twitter" against Shapiro.
"We fed Shapiro oppo [opposition research] to the media. We did what we could to create more noise and discontent,” the adviser said, adding they did not do the same with Walz.
The effort led to increasing opposition from the progressive left on some of Shapiro's stances, such as his pro-Israel views, and the term “Genocide Josh" gained traction on social media.
The Trump team reportedly breathed a sigh of relief when Walz became the pick — and even celebrated the selection.
Read also: 'Caution is warranted': WaPo warns of weak spot in Tim Walz's appeal
Shapiro appeared to command a raucous crowd at Temple University in Philadelphia on Tuesday night as he stumped for Harris, with chants of "G-S-D" erupting after he shared the meaning behind the profane acronym, which he called one of his pillars.
"Y'all fill my heart," Shapiro said at the rally. "And I love you so much. And I want you to know, every single day I go to work for you. I put my shoulder to the wheel. And I focus on three simple letters in our alphabet. G-S-D. I focus on getting s--- done for all of you!"
Also a talented orator, Walz brought his style of humor to the rally, leaning into his own "weird" attack at MAGA Republicans — and using meme culture to dig at his GOP counterpart.
"J.D. Vance literally — literally — wrote the foreword for the architect of the Project 2025 agenda," said Walz, before laying into Vance for writing a book disparaging America's "heartland."
"I gotta tell you. I can't wait to debate the guy," Walz said, as the audience burst into cheers. "That is, if he's willing to get off the couch and show up."
