Shapiro’s Memoir Reveals Questions from Harris’ Campaign
In his upcoming memoir, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro reveals that Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign inquired about his past interactions with the Israeli government when considering him for a potential running mate in 2024.
Shapiro mentions that Dana Remus, a lawyer who played a key role in the vice presidential vetting process, asked whether Harris had ever been an “Israeli double agent” or had connections with Israeli intelligence. He recounted wondering how they would know if anyone was operating undercover, as noted by reports from various outlets.
According to Shapiro, the questions raised concerns about whether he was uniquely targeted as “the only Jew running” or if others were being subjected to similar scrutiny regarding their associations with Israel. He felt these inquiries were offensive, yet was told by Harris’s team that they were necessary to ask.
The memoir also covers a separate incident where Harris reportedly asked Shapiro whether he would apologize for his reactions to her comments on pro-Palestinian demonstrations at the University of Pennsylvania. Shapiro stated that while most campus speech was peaceful and constitutionally protected, some protests were not.
Neither Harris nor Shapiro have commented publicly on these revelations.
In the lead-up to the selection process, Harris initially considered Shapiro as her running mate before ultimately choosing Minnesota’s Tim Walz, who is not Jewish. Activist groups advocating for Palestinian rights opposed Shapiro due to his support for Israel and his stance on protests following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. Shapiro has identified himself as a Zionist, voicing his support for Israel in previous statements.
In an essay from 1993, Shapiro discussed his time studying in Israel and volunteering with the Israeli army. He faced backlash for earlier comments stating that Palestinians were “too militant to build their own peaceful homeland,” which garnered criticism during the 2024 election cycle.
