In a revealing new memoir, a leading Democratic contender for the 2028 presidential race has disclosed private advice he received from former President Donald Trump, centred on the grave dangers of seeking the nation's highest office.
A Personal Call After Tragedy
Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor, Josh Shapiro, details in his forthcoming book, 'Where We Keep the Light: Stories from a Life of Service', that Trump reached out to him following a traumatic arson attack at his family home last year. The former president left a voicemail containing his personal mobile number and an invitation to call back at any time.
Shapiro writes that when he returned the call, Trump answered. The conversation quickly turned, with the former president praising his own record on the economy and gas prices before shifting to the political landscape.
Political Speculation and a Stark Warning
According to Shapiro's account, reported by the Washington Post, Trump then ran through a list of potential Democratic presidential contenders for 2028, though the governor does not reveal which names were mentioned. Trump is said to have complimented Shapiro on his communication style and problem-solving approach.
However, the conversation took a sobering turn. Trump reportedly warned Shapiro that he 'shouldn't want to be president given how dangerous it had become to hold the office.' This warning came in a year where Trump himself survived two assassination attempts: one at his Butler, Pennsylvania rally in July 2024, where gunman Thomas Crooks grazed his ear, and another in a planned sniper attack at his Florida golf club, for which Ryan Wesley Routh was convicted in 2025.
Scrutiny from the Harris Campaign
The memoir also sheds light on Shapiro's vetting process to become Kamala Harris's running mate in the 2024 election. He reveals that Harris's campaign team asked him if he had ever 'been a double agent for Israel.' This pointed question, which Shapiro implies was deeply offensive, stemmed from concerns among some Democrats that his Jewish faith and pro-Israel stance would re-ignite contentious debates about Gaza and harm the ticket.
In her own memoir, 107 Days, Harris alluded to 'the attacks [Shapiro had] confronted on Gaza' but also noted he had been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ultimately, Harris selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her vice-presidential nominee. Her memoir cites a 'nagging concern' that Shapiro would struggle with a secondary role, noting he peppered her team with detailed questions about the vice president's duties and residence.
CNN reported that the Harris campaign also probed Walz's ties to China, indicating the scrutiny of foreign allegiances was not unique to Shapiro.
The Path to 2028
Despite the personal reservations of his own family at the time—his son reportedly said he didn't seem to want to run nationwide—Shapiro's book is widely viewed as the opening salvo in his own expected bid for the White House in 2028. This assumes he secures a second term as Pennsylvania's governor in the 2026 election.
The memoir, which is set for release on 27 January, offers a rare glimpse into the cross-party dynamics and profound security anxieties defining modern American political life, framing Shapiro's personal narrative within the nation's turbulent political climate.
