Doug Emhoff reportedly had a tense exchange Monday with a GOP senator’s husband who snubbed his wife, former Vice President Kamala Harris, earlier this month.
According to CNN, the former second gentleman refused a handshake from Bruce Fischer, the husband of Sen. Deb Fischer (R.-Neb.), at a ceremonial tea at the White House ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
“Why would you try to shake my hand when you wouldn’t shake my wife’s hand?” Emhoff told Fischer, a person familiar with the interaction told the outlet.
The source also stated that neither the former vice president nor the senator was involved in Emhoff’s confrontation.
Footage of Deb Fischer’s Jan. 3 swearing-in ceremony shows Bruce Fischer refusing to make eye contact with Harris. Though Deb Fischer shook Harris’ hand after completing her oath, the senator’s husband offers only a curt “thank you” to the vice president before placing his free hand in his pocket.
The frostiness began moments before Deb Fischer’s swearing-in, when Bruce Fischer appeared so reluctant to stand close to Harris that the vice president commented.
“It’s OK, I won’t bite. I’m not going to bite, don’t worry,” she said.
Not surprisingly, video of the exchange quickly went viral and drew a plethora of comments from viewers across the political spectrum. Immediately after being sworn-in, Deb Fischer shared photos of the event on her social media but did not address her husband’s actions.
“Together we will continue to stand tall for our shared values and take care of our people,” she wrote. “We will protect this nation. We will build a stronger Nebraska. And we will secure that brighter future for our children and grandchildren.”
Per CNN, Emhoff’s Inauguration Day exchange with Bruce Fischer ended with an apology from the senator’s husband. Tempers later cooled, the source said, and the pair chatted about golf and other things.