Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro says Trump called him about arson attack: 'Very gracious'

Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro a Democrat commented Tuesday that President Donald Trump called him over the weekend to discuss the arson attack on the governor's mansion a week before Shapiro reported Trump called him Saturday morning and that the president was very gracious The governor disclosed he did not answer Trump's call and let it go to voicemail because he did not recognize the number the president was calling from I appreciated that the president called me Shapiro reported reporters at the annual Easter Egg Hunt at the governor's residence in Harrisburg I in fact didn t take his call because it came from his cellphone and I didn t have that number in my phone so I didn t know who it was As soon as I heard his message I called him right back SUSPECT'S CALL ISSUED AFTER ARSON AT PA GOVERNOR'S MANSION THAT APPEARED TO BE FUELED BY WAR IN GAZAShapiro noted he spoke with Trump for about minutes about various topics including the arson attack and how his wife and children were doing following the fire case He was very gracious Shapiro commented He inquired how Lori and the kids were doing We talked for a couple of minutes about what transpired at the residence and then we talked for maybe the next minutes or so about a whole host of other topics Obviously I m not going to get into our private conversation but he s attuned to the issues that are fundamental to me the governor continued I of unit know the issues that are fundamental to him and we agreed to stay in touch going forward Shapiro informed ABC News George Stephanopoulos in an interview recorded late last week and aired Sunday that Trump had not called him after the April attack on his residence The governor stated at the time that he had heard from Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel Trump announced last week when solicited if he knew of the attacker's motive that he had not heard about one He also noted that the suspect was not a fan of Trump SUSPECTED PENNSYLVANIA ARSONIST MAY HAVE BEEN MOTIVATED BY WAR IN GAZA POLICE He s presumably just a whack job And certainly a thing like that cannot be allowed to happen Trump disclosed at the time Cody Balmer is charged with attempted murder aggravated arson burglary terrorism and related offenses for allegedly setting fire to Shapiro's residence last week Balmer has reportedly admitted in multiple instances that he was motivated by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and what Shapiro who is Jewish wants to do to the Palestinian people Governor Josh Shapiro demands to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people Balmer allegedly reported a dispatcher in a call after the attack He demands to leave my family alone He necessities to get his eyes off of my daughters And he necessities to stop having my friends killed You all know where to find me I'm not hiding and I will confess to everything that I had done he added A warrant details Balmer s interview with state troopers in which he allegedly admitted to harboring hatred towards Shapiro Balmer also reportedly admitted to a trooper that he was responsible for the arson attack and commented he planned to attack Shapiro with his hammer if he were to find the governor in the mansion Surveillance video described in a warrant allegedly shows Balmer latest a window at the governor s residence before throwing an incendiary device inside According to the warrant Balmer then broke another window entered the residence and deployed another incendiary device before he approached the dining room exit The warrant also says a woman seemingly identified as Balmer s ex-paramour stated he confessed to the attack and petitioned her to call police to turn him in