Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently shared candid insights in a new interview with “The Breakfast Club” about a conversation he had with then-President Joe Biden regarding the 2024 election. Shapiro recalled trying to deliver some sobering news to Biden while he was still the presumptive Democratic nominee, warning the president about the challenges he was facing in Pennsylvania.

Nearly a year after the 2024 election—a moment viewed as a reckoning for Democrats—the party continues to grapple with understanding its recent missteps. Shapiro, who is known for his moderate stance and willingness to engage with conservatives, spoke openly about the frank discussion he had with Biden at a Harrisburg coffee shop.

“I went directly to the president and spoke to him about what I saw were, you know, his challenges in Pennsylvania. I was really honest with him,” Shapiro said. “We got together at a coffee shop in Harrisburg. I think this has been reported. I mean, I’ll just share with you. He said, ‘How’s it going?’ I was very clear: ‘It’s not going well.’”

Shapiro went on to describe the specifics of his message to Biden at the time: “Polls are showing it’s not going well. I don’t think you’re handling the cost question. Back to what we talked about before with rising costs. It was a big theme in the campaign. Big issue in Pennsylvania. I didn’t think they were handling that well. I expressed that I thought people thought he wasn’t up to the job.”

Reflecting on his approach to the conversation, Shapiro noted, “Look, maybe it’s old school, but I believe that if you got something to say, you say it directly to that person’s face, and he’s the president of the United States. I respected him, still respect him, and I respect him enough to say it directly to his face.”

When asked how Biden received this frank assessment, Shapiro replied, “I think he heard it. He told me that their poll numbers were different, and he seemed committed to continuing forward. And, listen, that’s his call.”

Shapiro also remembered encouraging Biden that part of the problem was his team not being straightforward with him.

During the interview, “Breakfast Club” host Charlamagne tha God argued that stories like Shapiro’s need to be told by any future Democratic presidential contenders, stating, “Anybody that wants to lead this party in the future has to throw that old regime under the bus.”

However, Shapiro disagreed with that approach. “I don’t believe that you get ahead in life by throwing people under the bus,” he said. “I don’t believe that I got to kick somebody in order to get ahead. I think you’ve got to show your work. I think you’ve got to show a vision. I think you’ve got to tell people what you’re all about.”

Notably, Shapiro had been vetted as a potential running mate for then-Vice President Kamala Harris, though she ultimately chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.

Shapiro’s warnings proved prescient, as Trump went on to win Pennsylvania and secure the presidency in 2024. Fox News Digital reached out to Biden’s staff for comment but did not receive an immediate response.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/18/us-news/pennsylvania-gov-josh-shapiro-recalls-giving-biden-brutal-reality-check-about-his-2024-campaign/