Josh Shapiro tells off Bill Maher as he asks about 2028 run: 'I refuse to take any of your bait'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro firmly brushed aside speculation about a potential White House bid during a television appearance on Friday, March 13, telling host Bill Maher he would not be drawn into discussing a possible 2028 campaign.

The exchange took place during Shapiro’s appearance an an interview with Bill Maher, where the governor joined the program to discuss his new memoir, 'Where We Keep the Light'.

But the conversation repeatedly drifted toward national politics as Maher hinted that Shapiro could be positioning himself for a future presidential run.

Josh Shapiro sets record straight on Bill Maher's show

At one point, Maher joked about a familiar trend in American politics- politicians publishing books ahead of launching campaigns.

“What is the story with always writing a book when you’re running for president?” Maher asked.

Shapiro quickly pushed back on the suggestion, saying the book was not connected to any presidential ambitions and instead focused on highlighting the “goodness” and resilience of working people across Pennsylvania.

Later in the interview, after Shapiro outlined several accomplishments from his time as governor, Maher again nudged the conversation toward the idea of a presidential campaign.

“Sounds like you’re well on your way to the nomination,” the host quipped. This time, Shapiro responded more bluntly.

“I refuse to take any of your bait here,” he told Maher, smiling but declining to engage in speculation about the 2028 race.

Despite his reluctance to entertain the idea publicly, Shapiro’s name has frequently surfaced in conversations about potential Democratic contenders for the 2028 presidential election.

Bill Maher questions Shapiro on anti- semitism

Toward the end of the discussion, Maher shifted the conversation to Shapiro’s Jewish faith and how it might factor into national politics.

“You’re a Democrat running possibly for president, and you’re Jewish,” Maher said. “Yeah,” Shapiro replied.

Maher then expressed concern about rising antisemitism and suggested it had increasingly become normalized in some spaces.

“And somehow it got to where among the young people, antisemitism got to be kind of cool,” Maher said.

He then asked whether Shapiro believed he could confront that trend if he ever did seek the presidency.

“You think you could, if you did run for president, you could fight this and convince the Democratic Party that being Jewish isn’t like the worst thing a person could be?” Maher asked.

Shapiro stressed that he had never tried to hide his Jewish identity despite political stakes. He asserted that people respect transparency and connect with leaders on a deeper level when they're willing to open up.