Squad members double down after ‘other Jewish guy’ mix-up

Rep. Summer Lee appeared to confuse Rep. Josh Gottheimer with Gov. Josh Shapiro during an online exchange.

By World Israel News Staff

Reps. Summer Lee (D-Pa.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) mistakenly attacked a fellow Democrat on social media — apparently confusing him with another Jewish Democratic politician who shares the same first name — and then refused to back down after the error was pointed out.

The exchange began Monday after Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) criticized the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), arguing that the group’s increasingly radical positions, including its anti-Israel activism, have alienated many mainstream Democrats.

“The DSA are not Democrats. They’re socialists, who want to hijack the Democratic Party,” Gottheimer wrote on X. “The Democrats have a big tent. That’s our strength. We embrace a range of ideas — but there’s no room for anti-American bomb-throwers who oppose our ideas, values, & leaders.”

Rep. Summer Lee responded by accusing Gottheimer of being among the Democrats who “sign bombs and vote to drop them.”

The remark appeared to reference Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, who signed an artillery shell during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s September 2024 visit to Pennsylvania. The shell was intended for use in Ukraine’s war against Russia.

Gottheimer quickly corrected Lee.

“You know that’s the other Jewish guy named Josh, right?” he wrote.

Rather than acknowledging the mistake, Rep. Ilhan Omar stepped in to defend Lee, arguing that Gottheimer had voted in favor of military assistance to Ukraine.

“Shapiro signed the bombs you voted to be dropped,” Omar wrote, adding sarcastically, “Hope this helps!”

Gottheimer responded by pointing out that Omar herself had supported the very same legislation.

“Ilhan, you know who else voted for it? You,” Gottheimer responded.

Neither Lee nor Omar publicly acknowledged confusing the two politicians or apologized following the exchange. Their offices also did not respond to media requests for comment.

The incident attracted attention because several prominent Jewish Democratic elected officials share the first name Josh. In addition to Gottheimer and Shapiro, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein and Hawaii Gov. Josh Green are currently in office.