Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said that an arsonist set fire to his home in Harrisburg at 2 AM on Sunday. The Democrat and his family were evacuated and police are investigating the incident. No one was injured and the fire was extinguished, according to authorities. The fire broke out on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which Shapiro and family celebrated at the residence. No suspect has been named in the case.
Governor Josh Shapiro said an arsonist set fire to his residence in Harrisburg (AP)
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While police have not confirmed the arson as an assassination attempt, several social media user speculated that it was an attack on Shapiro, who has been vocal about his criticism of President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs.
“An assassination attempt on Josh Shapiro and his family last night. This is what JD Vance wants us to say thank you for,” one person said on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.
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“Arson Assassination Bid on Dem Governor and Sleeping Family,” another one added.
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“Arson Assassination Bid on Dem Governor and Sleeping Family,” another one added.
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Police are yet to confirm the motivation of the suspect. The arson has not been declared as an assassination attempt yet.
Josh Shapiro's statement on arson attempt
“Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg,” Shapiro tweeted on Sunday.
“The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe,” he further added.
Shapiro's criticism of Trump tariffs
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Gov Josh Shapiro during an event at the Port of Philadelphia said that President Trump's reciprocal tariffs have caused ‘chaos and confusion’.
"There is a whole lot of confusion in the marketplace because of the confusion Donald Trump has brought to this," Shapiro said.
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.
Stay updated with US News covering politics, crime, weather, local events, and sports highlights. Get the latest on Donald Trump and American politics along with Horoscope 2026.
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Home/World News/Us News/Assassination attempt on Josh Shapiro? Arson at Pennsylvania Gov's home amid his tariff criticism
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