Second gentleman Doug Emhoff says the U.S. faces 'epidemic of hate' amid recent surge of antisemitism

Doug Emhoff, the second gentleman, hosted a roundtable at the White House on Wednesday to discuss the recent surge of antisemitism in the U.S., NPR reports. In a speech, Emhoff warned attendees of an "epidemic of hate facing our country."

"Words matter," Emhoff said. "People are no longer saying the quiet parts out loud; they are screaming them."

Several White House officials joined Vice President Kamala Harris' husband, including Ambassador Deborah Lipstadt, Biden's special envoy to monitor antisemitism; domestic policy adviser Susan Rice; and Director of Public Engagement Keisha Lance Bottoms. Representatives from more than a dozen leaders in the Jewish community attended the event, including representatives from Hillel, the Orthodox Union, and the Anti-Defamation League.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Emhoff had been planning the event for weeks. Still, White House aides say the discussion became more significant in light of a recent surge of antisemitic comments and actions from high-profile people, per CNN. Rapper Ye recently praised Adolf Hitler, the latest in a string of anti-Jewish remarks. Last month, former President Trump came under fire for hosting the rapper and Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes for dinner at his estate.

Ambassador Lipstadt told the roundtable that the threat of antisemitism has not been taken seriously enough.

"For too long, Jew-hatred has been belittled or discounted because Jews have erroneously been considered white and privileged," she said. "This is a very real threat to Jews, and that alone would make it worth fighting with all our soul and with all our might."