Emhoff says he’d like to place mezuzah on White House if Harris wins US election

When Kamala Harris was sworn into office as vice president, she and Doug Emhoff placed a mezuzah on the US vice president’s residence in Washington. Emhoff says if Harris is elected, he would look to see if one could be placed in the White House.

“Three months from now, the White House residence could – I have to check first — could have a mezuzah on its doorpost,” Emhoff says.

Delivering remarks on antisemitism in America Monday in Pittsburgh, a day after the anniversary of the Tree of Life synagogue massacre, Emhoff says voters have a choice of whether to empower the voices fighting antisemitism or those fomenting it — declaring that he and Harris are committed to “extinguishing this epidemic of hate.”

“There is a fire in this country, and we either pour water on it or we pour gasoline on it,” he says.

“One thing we know about antisemitism is that whenever chaos and cruelty are given a green light, Jew-hatred has historically not far behind,” Emhoff says. “And that matters so much today because Donald Trump is nothing if not an agent of chaos and cruelty.”

Emhoff credits his wife for urging him to “use my voice” on the issue and says she has an “unwavering” commitment to support Israel. “Kamala feels it in her kishkes.” He contrasts her commitment with Trump, who according to former aides has praised Nazis.