Despite Bill Maher’s best efforts, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stopped short of confirming a 2028 presidential run on Friday—but his appearance on Real Time with Bill Maher felt like a dress rehearsal of sorts for future engagements. When Maher pressed him about presidential aspirations, Shapiro refused to take the bait… but he didn’t rule it out either.
“I’m not an expert in the D.C. stuff,” Shapiro told Maher, sidestepping the question of whether he’s gearing up for a run in 2028. “I live in the real world in Pennsylvania, where we have to balance budgets.” But his frustration with Washington’s leadership, particularly Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, was evident as he criticized the lack of strategic leverage when it came to preventing a government shutdown.
“I would have liked to see Schumer use his leverage to demand more from Republicans,” Shapiro said. “Force them to meet us halfway on key issues.”
Shapiro also expressed growing concern among his constituents about the state of politics, referencing a conversation he had at a local Dick’s Sporting Goods. “They’re worried,” Shapiro explained, “They want to see action.”
The governor did not shy away from discussing his identity and faith. “I’m damn proud of my faith,” he said, addressing his Judaism. Which may or may not have been a factor in Kamala Harris overlooking him as her running mate. “I’ll just say one quick thing on that whole vice president thing,” Shapiro said. “Kamala Harris had a deeply personal decision to make in that process. In the end, so did I.”
Meanwhile, Maher used the opportunity to lash out at President Donald Trump, calling him “the Ozempic of the economy” in a scathing monologue. He mocked Trump’s erratic economic policies, especially the damage caused by tariffs and cuts to federal agencies. In his own, reserved way, Shapiro might be positioning himself as an alternative.
