Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) seemingly wavered over President Donald Trump’s decision to strike Iran early Saturday, lamenting what he sees as lacking a “clear plan” for the future of its government while simultaneously expressing the need for new leadership.
“In going to war with Iran, the President has not adequately explained why this war is urgent now, what this military campaign may look like, or what the strategic objective is,” Shapiro said in a statement. “President Trump and his Administration have not demonstrated to the American people that we have a clear plan with this mission.”
Shapiro, considered a potential 2028 contender, blasted Trump’s decision to pursue regime change in Iran alongside Israel, whose own strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, instead of an elusive nuclear deal. He said the pivot, which seemed inevitable as nuclear talks yielded little progress, endangers U.S. service members in the region and undermines U.S. national security.
But the Pennsylvania governor still expressed support for a new and much different Iranian government, rebuking the regime and its violent crackdown on protesters in January that heightened U.S.-Iran tensions and spurred the military conflict.
“Make no mistake, the Iranian regime represses its own people and is the leading state sponsor of terrorism around the world,” Shapiro said. “In recent weeks, tens of thousands of brave Iranians have died standing up for their freedoms against this cruel regime. The people of Iran deserve a government that gives voice to these hopes, respects their rights, and pursues their interests peacefully – not through violence or intimidation.”
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So far, the regime has suffered massive blows to its leadership, most notably Khamenei. His death initiates a succession process but with no successor readily apparent. Israel also killed some of his key advisers and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, among other high-level officials.
Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, have been urging the Iranian people to overthrow their theocratic government entirely, an equally uncertain prospect.
