Doug Emhoff joins fury at university presidents over antisemitism comments
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U.S. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff delivers remarks during the Annual National Menorah Lighting, at the Ellipse of the White House in Washington, DC, on Dec. 7, 2023. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff joined the growing chorus of influential figures criticizing the presidents of top universities over their congressional testimony this week about antisemitism on campus.
Driving the news: Emhoff, speaking Thursday night at a ceremony to light the National Menorah on the White House lawn, said the school leaders "were unable to denounce calling for the genocide of Jews as antisemitic," per AP.
- "The lack of moral clarity is unacceptable," he added.
The big picture: Emhoff is the first Jewish spouse of a U.S. president or vice president.
- "We're feeling alone, we feel hated, we're in pain," Emhoff said, referring to conversations he's had with other Jewish leaders amid the Israel-Hamas war.
- "Let's be clear: When Jews are targeted because of their beliefs or identity, and when Israel is singled out because of anti-Jewish hatred, that is antisemitism, and it must be condemned," Emhoff said. "Condemned unequivocally and without context."
Backstory: The school leaders are facing rising calls to resign, plus donor anger and a new House GOP investigation, after giving widely panned responses to questions about antisemitism at hearing on Capitol Hill this week.
- Harvard President Claudine Gay, MIT President Sally Kornbluth and University of Pennsylvania President Elizabeth Magill appeared Tuesday before the House Education Committee, where they defended their responses to incidents of antisemitism on their campuses.
- In response to a question by Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) on whether "calling for the genocide of Jews" violated the schools' codes of conduct, the presidents said it would be context-specific, and depend on whether speech turned into conduct.
What's happening: The board of Penn's Wharton business school on Thursday night called on Magill to resign, according to a letter obtained by Axios' Dan Primack.
- Hours before, a wealthy alumnus pulled a $100 million gift to the school, citing the testimony and saying he was "appalled" by the school's stance on antisemitism on campus.
- House Education Chair Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), calling the testimony "absolutely unacceptable," announced "a formal investigation into the learning environments at Harvard, UPenn, and MIT and their policies and disciplinary procedures."
- "This investigation will include substantial document requests, and the Committee will not hesitate to utilize compulsory measures including subpoenas if a full response is not immediately forthcoming," her statement added.
Meanwhile, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) said on Fox News that all three presidents should resign, calling their statements "abhorrent."
- "Trying to contextualize what constitutes harassment? Jewish students are terrified on these campuses," she said.
Context: Tensions on school campuses and across the country have escalated as the the war, ignited by Hamas' Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel, drags on — and as criticism grows of the Israeli government's military response in Gaza.
- Nearly 1.9 million Palestinians or roughly 85% of the population have already been displaced inside Gaza as of Dec. 3, according to the United Nations. At least 17,700 Palestinians — mostly women and children — have been killed, per the Ministry of Health in Hamas-run Gaza.
- The FBI said this week that it has seen an increase in the number of reported threats to both Jewish and Muslim people in the U.S. amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.
