Doug Emhoffthe husband of former vice president Kamala Harriswas out for blood at President Donald Trump's inauguration, deliberately censuring a man who refused his wife's offer of a handshake earlier this month, according to CNN.
Emhoff, who served as the United States' second gentleman from 2021 to 2025, declined a handshake Monday from Bruce Fischer, husband of Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer. Emhoff brought up the moment Fischer appeared to refuse Harris' outstretched hand at the Republican senator's swearing-in on Jan. 3.
A viral video of that incident showed Fischer holding the Bible in one hand and a walking stick in the other as his wife recited the oath. When the then-vice president extended her hand to Fischer for a handshake, he nodded back but kept a neutral expression on his face.
“I'm not going to bite, don't worry,” a visibly embarrassed Harris said at the time.
Emhoff has not been able to forgive Fischer for the criticism, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
“Why would you try to shake my hand if you wouldn't shake my wife's hand?” Emhoff reportedly told Bruce Fischer during the ceremonial tea at the White House prior to Trump's swearing-in, the source said.
Fischer later apologized for deflecting Harris' handshake, CNN said.
The Daily Beast has contacted a spokesperson for Harris for comment.
The awkward altercation between Harris and Fischer on January 3 drew mixed reactions at the time, although some MAGA supporters were quickly to defend the senator's husband.
“He has a stick in one hand and the Bible in the other… which one did she expect him to drop?” said one.
“Whatever you think you stand for, that's just not cool. If you think the left is terrible, then not making this a better problem will make you a better problem,” said another commenter tweetedin support of Harris. “This is never the way the world can heal or grow. If he did it on purpose, that's very childish for an older man.”
