Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he hasn't heard from Trump since the arson attack

NBC News

17-04-2025

After a man tried to assassinate Donald Trump in July at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, the state's Democratic governor, Josh Shapiro, quickly issued a statement condemning the attempt on the Republican presidential candidate's life.
'Violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable,' Shapiro posted on X that day. 'It has no place in Pennsylvania or the United States. I have been briefed on the situation. @PAStatePolice are on the scene in Butler County and working with our federal and local partners.'
In the 24 hours after the attack, Shapiro worked closely with law enforcement, including calling Republican members of Congress present at the rally, then-President Joe Biden and the Trump campaign (although he did not speak directly to Trump). He also called and spoke with the family of Corey Comperatore, the Trump supporter who was shot and killed.
Yet three days after an arson attack on Shapiro's residence in Harrisburg Sunday, Trump still has not called Shapiro or weighed in significantly to condemn the violence.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Shapiro told reporters Wednesday afternoon that he has not yet heard from Trump since the attack. Law enforcement has charged Cody A. Balmer, 38, with the crime, alleging that he broke into the governor's home and started multiple fires with Molotov cocktails while Shapiro and his family were inside.
The fire came just hours after the Shapiros hosted Passover dinner at their house. Shapiro said they had to evacuate after they were awakened by loud bangs on their door. No one was hurt, but the home sustained significant damage.
Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, put out a statement sharply criticizing Trump for not weighing in.
"Last year, Trump didn't hesitate to call Josh Shapiro a 'highly overrated Jewish governor.' Now, nearly four days after Gov. Shapiro was targeted in an act of political violence — reportedly due to his position on Israel — Trump hasn't clearly condemned it."
'Trump feigns support for Jewish Americans and Israel, but his actions suggest otherwise," Soifer added. "He's a hypocrite who condones political violence when it suits his political agenda, and his silence amid this targeted arsonist attack on Gov. Shapiro speaks volumes. Shame on the President.'
Others in the Trump administration have condemned the attack, as have prominent congressional Republicans.
'Thanks be to God that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed in this attack,' Vice President JD Vance commented Sunday on X. 'Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice.'
Speaking with reporters at a Wednesday briefing, Attorney General Pam Bondi said both she and FBI Director Kash Patel spoke with Shapiro after the attack, which she called 'horrific.'
Bondi said she "firmly believe[d]" the attack was intended to kill Shapiro, pledging to continue to work with state authorities to do 'anything we can to help convict the person that did this and keep them behind bars, as long as possible.'
Shapiro himself noted Monday that he had been in touch with Patel, who promised that the federal government would assist in the investigation.
The same day, a reporter asked Trump whether the FBI had determined a motive behind the attack on Shapiro.
'No, I haven't, but the attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand — just from what I read and from what I've been told,' Trump said in his most extensive comments on the fire. 'The attacker basically wasn't a fan of anybody. He's probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen.'
Newly released search warrants suggest that Balmer was upset by Shapiro's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Around 2:50 a.m. Sunday, about 50 minutes after the fire, he reportedly called 911 and told a dispatcher that he 'will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.' It is not entirely clear whether he was referring to Shapiro.
Balmer's social media presence suggested anti-government views, including negative content about Biden.
Shapiro told reporters Wednesday that the political motivation behind the attack was not the most important issue.
'I know that there are people out there who want to ascribe their own viewpoints as to what happened here and why,' he said, adding: 'I choose not to participate in that. I said after the assassination attempt on the president … in Butler, I said in Altoona — after we captured the individual who shot and killed the United Healthcare CEO — and I said on Sunday that this kind of violence has no place in our society, regardless of what motivates it. This is not how we resolve our differences. And this is not OK. This level of violence has to end, and it has to be roundly condemned by everyone, both political parties, people from all different walks of life.'
The conduct of Shapiro — who is widely discussed as a potential 2028 presidential candidate and was in the running to be Kamala Harris' running mate last year — in assisting with the Butler investigation drew widespread praise, including from Republicans in the state.
Speaking with NBC News' 'Meet the Press' in July, Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., said he appreciated having heard from Shapiro 'immediately' as he was leaving the rally, adding that Shapiro asked: 'Hey, what happened? What can we do? Are we — do we have enough state troopers?'
Meuser later told NBC News that Shapiro 'was on the job' and that 'it was a great conversation.'
Yet Meuser, a potential challenger to Shapiro in 2026, was far more critical of him Wednesday, suggesting that while the arsonist who attacked the Governor's Residence was 'a psycho,' Shapiro's rhetoric and actions may be contributing to the problem.
' They got to tone it down, too,' Meuser, who earlier posted a lengthy condemnation of the attack, said in a radio interview. 'I mean, every action Josh Shapiro has taken against the president has either been a lawsuit or a falsehood. … That's not helpful, either.'
Shapiro seemed surprised by the remarks when a reporter asked him about them Wednesday, replying, ' He said that?'
'Look, I've said for years leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity,' Shapiro said. 'It would appear the congressman failed to measure up to that.'