As a key swing state and with there being just over six weeks to go until Election Day, Pennsylvania has found itself in the news quite a bit lately. It's likely to stay that way. On Sunday, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori, were there to meet Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky when he landed in Scranton. Zelensky also met with other Pennsylvania Democrats too, like Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. and Rep. Matt Cartwright. Not only that, but Zelensky also made remarks about Sen. JD Vance (R-OH), the running mate for former and potentially future President Donald Trump.
Greg Price shared a photo of Zelensky touring an ammunition factory, as well as a screenshot of part of an interview that the foreign leader did with The New Yorker.
Zelensky and the interviewer were talking about Trump, and comments he's made about the war in Ukraine, but then Vance also came up. "Apart from Trump’s own reluctance to talk about Ukrainian victory, he has chosen J. D. Vance as his Vice-Presidential candidate," the interviewer said, which prompted Zelensky to claim Vance "is too radical." He even cut the interviewer off to continue to take issue with Vance.
Beyond the screenshotted portion, Zelensky also went after to Vance for engaging in what he called "sloganeering."
"For us, these are dangerous signals, coming as they do from a potential Vice-President," Zelensky said as part of his response to another question, "What does it mean for Ukraine that people with such ideas and slogans are rising to power?"
Zelensky is now touring ammunition factories in Pennsylvania and attacking President Trump and JD Vance in American media outlets.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) September 23, 2024
A foreign leader is essentially campaigning for Harris on American soil. pic.twitter.com/580etLK72l
Foreign election meddling.
— Andy Ngo 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) September 23, 2024
Foreign collusion and election interference used to be considered treason, or at least a felony. Paul Manafort got sent to Rikers for less
— Peachy Keenan (@KeenanPeachy) September 23, 2024
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This comment by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy is inappropriate, and were it said about another foreign leader, or about Kamala Harris, it would also be inappropriate.
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) September 24, 2024
It doesn’t matter if you think it’s true; it’s part of the drip, drip where government leaders feel increasingly… pic.twitter.com/zwZqJmJWfj
This is a chilling sign from a foreign leader. Such comments amounting to meddling in the upcoming election was certainly a common refrain about such a visit and such an interview.
"Foolish and sloppy" is how HuffPost's Yashar Ali categorized such remarks, who emphasized they were "inappropriate."
Zelensky also arrived here on the taxpayer's dime.
Worth noting that Zelenskyy was flown to Pennsylvania on an U.S. Air Force C-17.
— Dan Caldwell 🇺🇸 (@dandcaldwell) September 23, 2024
The Biden-Harris admin is using military assets to fly a foreign leader into a battleground state in order to undermine their political opponents. https://t.co/OSebVUuBEg pic.twitter.com/biMGTfAc1J
Shapiro had been all too happy to post about Zelensky's visit over social media throughout Monday. Zelensky and Casey were also present when the governor signed an artillery shell, and Cartwright made an appearance as well for such a visit.
Lori and I are proud to welcome President @ZelenskyyUa to Pennsylvania today.
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) September 22, 2024
Pennsylvanians stand with the people of Ukraine and their fight for freedom. pic.twitter.com/VVURRqZ63c
Pennsylvania stands with Ukraine as they defend their homeland and fight for freedom. https://t.co/IaCpOtR1Ao
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) September 23, 2024
🚨BREAKING: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (Dem) signs an artillery shell with Volodymyr Zelensky in the background. These politicians want endless wars! They want WWIII!
— AJ Huber (@Huberton) September 23, 2024
Meanwhile, 200 vehicles wreak havoc across Philadelphia over the weekend. One police officer was injured… pic.twitter.com/IoFIKiBSGN
Pennsylvania is one of the most hotly contested states, though the Harris campaign could have been all but certain to win it if the Democratic nominee picked Shapiro over the ultimate pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. It's no wondering there's been grumbling about such a move.
According to RealClearPolling, Harris only leads Trump by +0.7 in Pennsylvania. Casey meanwhile leads his Republican challenger, Dave McCormick, by +4.9 in this closely watched race. Forecasters only give the vulnerable incumbent a slight advantage of "Lean" or "Tilt Democratic." Cartwright is considered potentially even more vulnerable in his race.
Trump was also in Pennsylvania on Monday, and for all of Zelensky's criticisms about whether Trump would know how to end the war, the Republican nominee remains certain he would be able to. He even offered he "would work out peace... as president-elect," noting calling up Zelensky and Russia's President Putin would be "the first thing I'm gonna do."
PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL SETTLE THE WAR IN UKRAINE BEFORE TAKING OFFICE! pic.twitter.com/PO9bYhVInC
— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) September 24, 2024
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