Doug Emhoff, the first second gentleman in U.S. history, was prepared to support his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris, as an emissary, crisscrossing the nation, highlighting White House initiatives. But his focus has evolved, shifting to one that is local, global and personal, as he fights anti-Semitism in the U.S. and abroad. Emhoff joined Lisa McRee on “LA Times Today.”

In October 2022, a group of people raised their arms in Nazi salutes and hung a banner supporting anti-Semitic comments made by rapper Kanye West. When Emhoff, the first Jewish person to be married to an American vice president, saw that sign, he said, he had to act. 

“Anti-Semitism has been around forever. Even when I became second gentleman, it was an issue, something I was talking about, speaking out about. But once that banner unfurled on my freeway, my town, my neighborhood... I was furious. And I wanted to do more than what I’d been doing,” he said.

Emhoff has since traveled around the country and internationally speaking out against violence on the Jewish community. He said he feels a “responsibility” to use the platform he has been given as the spouse of Vice President Kamala Harris. One trip to Europe was especially personal for Emhoff, as he visited Nazi concentration camps and stopped at the village from which his family once fled.

Emhoff also talked about how he has handled his identity, shifting from being known as an entertainment lawyer to being known as the spouse of the vice president.

“I love being a lawyer. I always wanted to do what I became doing. But to be able to step away from that career and do it to support my wife, who is the first woman vice president, and to see what she’s doing in the country and on the world stage? I do it without any bitterness, without any saltiness. I do it gladly to support her. But it really hasn’t changed any balance of power,” he said. 

While Harris’ job is a 24/7 commitment, Emhoff said they still make time for family nights in when they are at their home in LA. 

“The ultimate is if she can get in that kitchen and she’s got the herbs in our backyard and she can source her ingredients and spend some time and she loves to cook. She’s really amazing at it. And I definitely love to eat. That’s really if we can get to do that and have that kind of evening. That’s amazing. And for course, we don’t get to do that too much,” Emhoff shared.

Watch the full interview above.

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