Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro Gets Unexpected Call From Trump After Mansion Arson

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro revealed this week that he received a surprise phone call from Donald Trump following the recent arson attack at the governor’s mansion. Shapiro, a Democrat, described the former president as "very gracious" during their conversation.

Shapiro said the call came in on Saturday morning, but he ignored it because the number wasn’t saved in his phone. Apparently, even presidents get the dreaded "unknown caller" treatment. Once he heard Trump’s voicemail, Shapiro returned the call promptly.

During their roughly 15-minute discussion, the two covered the arson incident, checked in on the well-being of Shapiro’s wife and kids, and touched on a variety of other topics. Shapiro kept the details of their private chat under wraps but said both men agreed to stay in touch. It’s not every day you hear about bipartisan bonding over a burned-down mansion.

Interestingly, just days before the call, Shapiro told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos he had only heard from other officials—like Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel—after the April 13 attack, but not from Trump himself until now.

Trump, meanwhile, commented last week that he didn’t know the arsonist’s motive but said the suspect "was not a fan of Trump." He added, "He’s probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen." Even Trump sounded a bit bewildered by the whole situation.

Cody Balmer, 38, faces charges including attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, and more for allegedly setting fire to Shapiro’s home. Authorities say Balmer admitted to being motivated by the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and by his beliefs about Shapiro’s stance on the issue.

In a 911 call after the attack, Balmer reportedly declared, "Governor Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people," and left a series of rambling statements about his family and friends. For the record, Balmer told dispatchers, "You all know where to find me. I'm not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I had done." Certainly not your run-of-the-mill criminal trying to cover his tracks.

According to a search warrant, Balmer confessed to state troopers that he "harbored hatred towards" Shapiro and even admitted he planned to attack the governor if he had found him at home. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Balmer breaking windows, tossing incendiary devices, and moving through the mansion before leaving the scene.

Police say Balmer also confessed the crime to a woman identified as his ex, asking her to call police and turn him in. Clearly, this wasn’t a case of subtlety or second thoughts.