Gov. Josh Shapiro Reflects on Conversation with Trump

In a recent interview, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro (D) revealed that President Donald Trump advised him against running for president following an arson attack on his home last year.

During a discussion with journalist Katie Couric on her podcast, Shapiro touched on his new book, “Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service,” and shared his thoughts about his interaction with Trump, which he described as “bizarre.” Shapiro found it interesting that, in such a serious moment, Trump chose to discuss his political future.

He characterized their conversation as “productive” but admitted he was taken aback by Trump’s warnings about the risks associated with a presidential campaign.

Shapiro recounted, “Toward the end of the call, he began to express his thoughts on political violence, referencing the dangers of being president. He cited statistics on presidential assassinations and cautioned, ‘This is very dangerous. Please don’t run.’”

Shapiro responded, laughing, “Mr. President, that’s not in my plans. That’s not what I’m doing. But I appreciate your sentiment.” He noted that Trump complimented his work and they agreed to keep in touch, adding that, although it was a strange exchange, he was grateful for the call.

White House press secretary Abigail Jackson seemed to validate their conversation, emphasizing that Trump is well aware of the threats posed by political violence.

A week after the arson attempt on Shapiro’s residence, which occurred during the Jewish holiday Passover, Trump made the call. Shapiro previously described Trump as “very kind,” acknowledging that they discussed various topics, including the incident at the governor’s mansion.

Shapiro, who may be considering a presidential run in 2028, refrained from directly addressing his political ambitions during the interview. Instead, he cautioned Democrats against becoming too focused on future leadership opportunities.

“I would also advise anyone looking too far ahead to not overlook the midterm elections,” he said.