Emhoff warns of "epidemic of hate" amid rising antisemitism

• "Let me be clear: Words matter," Emhoff, who is Jewish, said.
• "People are no longer saying the quiet parts out loud. They are literally screaming them."
• "What's happening now, it's visceral, it's real and that's why this is so personal to me," Emhoff, the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president, added.

The big picture: The event comes in the wake of former President Trump, who last month announced his official 2024 presidential campaign, hosting white nationalist Nick Fuentes at his Mar-a-Lago residence.

• Trump during the same meeting also hosted rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, who has made multiple antisemitic comments.

What he's saying: "Antisemitism is dangerous," Emhoff emphasized.

• "We cannot normalize this. We all have an obligation to condemn these vile acts ... all of us cannot stay silent," he said.
• "We know when people refuse to condemn this vile speech and these vile acts ... it only serves to ignite violence — violence among extremists," Emhoff said.
• "I will not remain silent and I'm proud to be Jewish, I'm proud to live openly as a Jew and I'm not afraid."
• "We cannot live in fear, we refuse to be afraid," he said.

Go deeper... Scoop: Bipartisan coalition pushes for national strategy on antisemitism