Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has revealed he was left feeling "offended" by members of Kamala Harris's presidential campaign, who directly asked him if he was a "double agent" for the Israeli government.
The Offensive Question During VP Vetting
The Jewish governor details the uncomfortable exchange in his new memoir, Where We Keep the Light, which covers the intense questioning he faced as Harris narrowed down her choice for vice presidential running mate. Shapiro was a finalist alongside Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Arizona Senator Mark Kelly.
According to the account, reported by The New York Times, the Harris campaign seemed deeply concerned about his stance on Israel amid the war with Hamas. The discussion culminated in a campaign staffer posing the blunt and, in Shapiro's view, highly offensive question about whether he was acting as a double agent for Israel.
Shapiro replied that the question was offensive, and was reportedly told in response: "Well, we have to ask." The governor wrote that while he understood the staffer was "just doing her job," the fact the question was asked at all "said a lot about some of the people around the VP."
Exclusive Scrutiny on the Jewish Candidate
This was not the only Israel-focused query Shapiro faced. He wrote that he wondered if "these questions were being posed to just me - the only Jewish guy in the running." Shapiro, whose home was once firebombed over the war in Gaza, had been an outspoken critic of antisemitism on US college campuses during the conflict.
He questioned whether other candidates who had not held federal office were "being grilled about Israel in the same way." Despite describing the vetting sessions as "completely professional and businesslike," Shapiro confessed: "I just had a knot in my stomach through all of it."
Why Shapiro Ultimately Wasn't Chosen
Shapiro had been considered a strong contender due to his popularity in the crucial swing state of Pennsylvania. However, many on the left were worried he would be too pro-Israel, and Democrats feared his nomination would re-ignite contentious debates about Gaza, potentially harming Harris's campaign.
Harris addressed some of these concerns in her own memoir, 107 Days, released last year. She alluded to "the attacks [Shapiro had] confronted on Gaza and what effect it might have on the enthusiasm we were trying to build," while also noting he had been critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
However, the decisive factor, according to Harris's account, was "a nagging concern that [Shapiro] would be unable to settle for a role as number two." She described him as peppering her and her staff with detailed questions about the vice president's role and residence, including the number of bedrooms and whether he could display art from Pennsylvania artists.
Shapiro also wanted assurance he would be in the room for significant decisions—a demand similar to one made by Joe Biden before accepting the role under Barack Obama. Shapiro explained he wanted the chance to argue his case, but if unsuccessful, would fully support Harris's final call.
"She was crystal clear that that was not what she was looking for," he wrote. The role ultimately went to Tim Walz. The Daily Mail has contacted Harris's office for comment on the revelations in Shapiro's book.
