Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner Tells Governor Shapiro ‘Don’t Be a Wimp’ Over ICE Nazi Comparison
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner has doubled down on his controversial rhetoric regarding federal immigration agents, telling Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro not to “be a wimp” after the governor condemned Krasner’s earlier remarks. The exchange highlights a deepening rift between the state’s top progressive prosecutor and its Democratic governor over how to address federal immigration enforcement.
The conflict began earlier this week when Krasner addressed a rally supporting “ICE Out” legislation. During the event, the District Attorney compared Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to “wannabe Nazis” and vowed to “hunt” them down legally if they violated the law.
“This is a small bunch of wannabe Nazis, that’s what they are,” Krasner said at the rally. “If we have to hunt you down the way they hunted down Nazis for decades, we will find your identities, we will find you, we will achieve justice.”
Governor Shapiro, a fellow Democrat who has emphasized moderation and public safety cooperation, strongly rejected the comparison during a subsequent interview. Speaking on Fox News, Shapiro called the District Attorney’s language “abhorrent” and “unacceptable.”
“That kind of rhetoric is unacceptable, it is abhorrent, and it is wrong, period, hard stop, end of sentence,” Shapiro stated. He argued that public officials have a responsibility to “bring down the temperature” rather than inflame political divisions with extreme language.
In response to the Governor’s rebuke, Krasner dismissed the criticism, suggesting that Shapiro was failing to address the severity of the issue.
“Don’t be a wimp,” Krasner said, characterizing Shapiro’s stance as “not meeting the moment.” The District Attorney maintains that his comments were directed at ensuring accountability for federal agents he believes are operating outside constitutional bounds.
Critics of Krasner, including Senator John Fetterman and various law enforcement groups, have joined Shapiro in denouncing the Nazi comparison as dangerous and historically offensive. They argue that such inflammatory speech risks inciting violence against federal officers and undermines legitimate policy debates.
Supporters of Krasner, however, contend that his aggressive stance is necessary to combat what they view as overreach and civil rights violations by federal immigration authorities. The dispute underscores the broader internal tension within the Democratic party between progressive activists demanding aggressive confrontation and moderate leaders prioritizing stability and consensus.
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