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Former U.S. Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has been dismissed from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, as President Donald Trump initiates a broader effort to reshape the board with individuals aligned more closely with his administration’s stance on Israel.
Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, was among several Biden-era appointees removed from the council, which oversees the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. The board plays a key role in guiding the museum’s operations and public policy initiatives.
In a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter), Emhoff expressed disappointment over his removal:
“Let me be clear: Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized,” he wrote. “To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous — and it dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.”
Emhoff, who is Jewish, had been appointed to the council in January 2024 for what was expected to be a five-year term. He had also served on President Joe Biden’s White House task force on antisemitism, formed in response to rising antisemitic incidents following the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Several other high-profile Biden administration figures were also dismissed from the council, including:
- Ron Klain, former White House Chief of Staff
- Tom Perez, former senior adviser
- Anthony Bernal, longtime aide to Jill Biden
- Susan Rice, former national security adviser under President Obama
According to a termination email obtained by The New York Times, the White House Presidential Personnel Office notified the outgoing members that their service was “effective immediately.” The email ended simply: “Thank you for your service.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the decision, stating:
“President Trump looks forward to appointing individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust but also stand strongly with Israel.”
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, established in 1993, is a federally chartered institution whose board has traditionally included bipartisan appointees serving staggered five-year terms. This latest shakeup marks a significant shift in how the Trump administration intends to steer the museum’s leadership and direction.
