Josh Shapiro: Trump Warned Me Being President Is ‘Very, Very Dangerous’ After Arson Attack
Josh Shapiro: Trump Warned Me Being President Is ‘Very, Very Dangerous’ After Arson Attack
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed a striking anecdote from a conversation he had with President Donald Trump after an arson attack on the governor’s residence — one that included Trump cautioning him that being president is “very, very dangerous.” The remark has drawn attention not only for its starkness but for what it reflects about political tensions, rising violence against public figures, and the strained political climate as the U.S. looks toward the 2028 presidential cycle.
Shapiro shared the details during an extended interview with CBS Sunday Morning, and also in his forthcoming memoir Where We Keep the Light, set for release on Jan. 27, 2026, in which he reflects on leadership, public service, and what he has endured in recent years.
A Strange Conversation After a Violent Incident
The phone call in question came in the immediate aftermath of a shocking attack on Shapiro’s home — the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg — on Apr. 13, 2025. The firebombing occurred in the middle of the night, hours after the governor and his family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence. Shapiro and his family were asleep when a state trooper awakened them and evacuated everyone safely. The attack was later charged as arson, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and terrorism by authorities.
Shapiro said his first reaction to the call was disbelief — seeing an unfamiliar number, he initially let it go to voicemail. But when he returned the call, it was indeed Trump on the line.
What started as a check‑in about security quickly turned into a broader, winding conversation. Trump reportedly offered law‑enforcement support to aid the ongoing investigation, and then — in Shapiro’s telling — pivoted to cautioning him about the risks of high office.
“You know, being president’s a really dangerous job,” Trump said, according to Shapiro, adding that others have jobs with lower fatality rates than U.S. presidents. “It’s very, very dangerous. Just be careful.”
Shapiro, who has not declared a 2028 presidential bid, said he told Trump he had no current plans to run for the presidency. Trump replied that he "just wanted to share that with you.” Shapiro called the exchange “strange.”
The Arson Attack That Prompted the Call
The April 2025 attack on the governor’s mansion was a deeply unsettling event that brought issues of political violence and public safety sharply into focus. Early reports described the firebombing as a targeted attack, with the suspect allegedly planning to inflict serious harm on Shapiro. ʻʻCody Allen Balmer,’’ the 38‑year‑old suspect, was later arrested and charged with terrorism, attempted murder, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault for running onto the property and tossing incendiary devices.
State police and federal authorities worked together on the investigation, with then‑Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasizing the severity of the incident and affirming a belief the assailant “wanted to kill” Shapiro.
In the aftermath, Shapiro condemned political violence and those who exploit incendiary rhetoric. He called for bipartisan leadership to reduce the “temperature” of discourse and diminish the risk of similar attacks.
Political Violence on the Rise — A Worrying Trend
Shapiro’s account, along with similar concerns echoed by other public officials across the country, feeds into a broader narrative about increasing threats against elected leaders. While political disagreement is nothing new in American politics, the frequency and severity of violent incidents — from the 2021 U.S. Capitol attack to targeted threats and assaults on local and state officials — have raised alarms across the political spectrum.
Shapiro himself has urged leaders to uniformly condemn all forms of violence, regardless of one’s political affiliation. He has criticized what he sees as inconsistent rhetoric about violence from Trump and others, suggesting that cherry‑picking which violent acts to condemn can worsen the climate of fear and retaliation.
Experts emphasize that political violence doesn’t just endanger its immediate victims — it can “terrorize, silence and tear at the fabric of American society,” according to Shapiro’s remarks at the Eradicate Hate conference.
Trump’s Warning: Caution or Commentary?
The starkness of Trump’s warning — highlighting the danger inherent in high office — grabbed headlines for its unusual frankness. Presidential security is always a serious consideration, but it’s rare for a sitting U.S. president to verbally highlight fatality rates of the job or to warn a potential future contender about its risks in such blunt terms.
Some political observers interpreted the tone as a kind of paternalistic caution. Others viewed it with skepticism, suggesting that it reflected Trump’s own framing of his tenure and the threats he perceives. Critics on social media noted that Trump tended to redirect conversations toward his own experiences or threats against himself, even in contexts where the focus should have remained squarely on the victim — in this case, Shapiro.
Whatever the intent, Shapiro told his interviewer that he appreciated the call but found the exchange unusual, especially in how it oscillated between topics like security support, the 2028 race, and Trump’s broader thesis about political risk.
What This Says About the 2028 Landscape
Although Shapiro has not officially announced a 2028 presidential bid, he is widely seen as a potential contender. His high profile within Democratic circles, his executive experience as governor of Pennsylvania, and his visibility on national issues make him a figure to watch. His rejection of a top spot on the 2024 Democratic ticket — when Vice President Kamala Harris reportedly vetted him for the vice‑presidential role — only added to speculation about his future ambitions.
Trump’s comments about the dangers of the presidency took place in the context of discussions about the 2028 cycle, even though Shapiro made clear he isn’t pursuing that path now. The juxtaposition of rising political violence, personal attacks against leaders, and the growing polarization of U.S. politics creates an ominous backdrop for any potential White House campaign.
The conversation, and Shapiro’s recounting of it, underscores the deep fears and calculations public figures now juggle when considering a run for the country’s highest office.
Broad Reactions: Bipartisan Concern Over Political Violence
Across both major parties, there is a growing acknowledgment that political violence is a real threat that requires unified condemnation. Shapiro himself expressed that sentiment, insisting that leaders on both sides must reject violent rhetoric and take steps to calm tensions.
Some Republicans, including Vice President JD Vance, unambiguously condemned the arson attack, calling it “really disgusting violence” and emphasizing that perpetrators must be swiftly brought to justice.
Yet other voices pointed fingers at both parties, arguing that inflammatory rhetoric — no matter where it originates — can contribute to dangerous environments. These debates surface regularly after high‑profile incidents affecting politicians, though consensus on concrete solutions remains elusive.
Safety, Security, and Public Service
For Shapiro, the experience has been deeply personal. Discussing the attack on his home — where he and his family slept — highlights the vulnerabilities elected officials and their families face. The violence that occurred in his residence was not an abstract news item; it was a physical threat that forced evacuation and caused significant property damage.
Shapiro’s response, however, has been to focus less on fear and more on collective resolve. In multiple public statements, he emphasized that the attack would not deter him from his duties or from celebrating his family’s faith and traditions publicly.
His broader message, delivered in interviews and in his memoir excerpts, centers on the need to reduce political violence, preserve democratic norms, and protect leaders — and citizens — from acts of domestic terrorism and hate‑fueled aggression.
Final Takeaway: Caution in a Charged Era
The image of a sitting president warning a governor about the dangers of a hypothetical presidency captures a unique moment in American politics — one marked by heightened anxiety, division, and real threats to safety. It also reflects how personal experience, political ambition, and national discourse have become deeply intertwined.
Whether or not Shapiro runs for president in 2028, his recounting of the conversation with Trump offers a compelling look at how leaders perceive risk, how they communicate with one another, and how political violence has reshaped the contours of public service.
As Shapiro continues to advocate for unity against political violence and prepares to share more of his story in Where We Keep the Light, the broader conversation about safety, rhetoric, and the future of American leadership will almost certainly evolve — and leaders on both sides of the aisle will be watching closely.
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