Before President Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony, there was a moment of tension between Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff and Bruce Fischer, the husband of Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer.
As reported by CNN, according to sources familiar with the interaction, Emhoff declined a handshake from Fischer at the White House’s pre-inauguration tea, citing an earlier incident involving Vice President Kamala Harris.
Earlier in January, during a swearing-in ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber, Bruce Fischer became the subject of a viral video after an awkward interaction with Harris. As Harris congratulated Senator Fischer and extended her hand toward her husband, Bruce Fischer looked down at her hand and merely said, “Thank you,” without reciprocating the gesture.
The disrespect is disgusting. Sen Deb Fischer’s (R-NE) husband refused to shake hands with Vice President Kamala Harris at the swearing in. pic.twitter.com/O1jUe7nHZm
— Fly Sistah 🪷 (@Fly_Sistah) January 6, 2025
A photograph of the moment showed Fischer holding a cane in one hand and a Bible in the other, which some say contributed to the missed handshake. However, Harris’ wide-eyed expression and tight-lipped smile suggested the encounter left an impression.
The incident was still fresh on Emhoff’s mind during the White House tea ceremony. When Bruce Fischer offered his hand to Emhoff, the Second Gentleman reportedly declined, saying, “Why would you try to shake my hand when you wouldn’t shake my wife’s hand?”
Despite the tension, Bruce Fischer later approached Emhoff to apologize, according to the source. The two men reportedly engaged in a more cordial conversation afterward, discussing topics such as golf on their way to the Capitol.
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Photo Credit: Instagram – @DouglasEmhoff
