Overview

• Doug Emhoff, the first Jewish Second Gentleman and husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, was removed from the Holocaust Museum board by President Trump on April 30, 2025.
• Trump also dismissed other Biden-era appointees, including former White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain and ex-National Security Advisor Susan Rice, as part of a broader overhaul of cultural boards.
• Emhoff criticized the decision, accusing Trump of politicizing Holocaust remembrance and vowed to continue advocating for Holocaust education.
• This follows Trump's February 2025 move to restructure the Kennedy Center board, where he appointed himself chair and pledged to eliminate programming deemed 'woke.'
• Presidential appointments to the Holocaust Museum board traditionally emphasize bipartisan stewardship, making these dismissals a significant departure from past norms.