Second gentleman Doug Emhoff's ex-wife has once again publicly shared her support for Vice President Kamala Harris—and criticized Melania Trump in the process.
Melania Trump could be returning to the White House as her husband, former President Donald Trump, aims to make a historic comeback in November, this time taking on Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee who emerged swiftly after President Joe Biden announced his exit from the race. Harris is expected to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech on August 22, after securing enough delegates to become the party's nominee.
Kerstin Emhoff, mother to son Cole and daughter Ella with Doug before their divorce, has regularly defended Harris amid attacks from Republicans in the lead-up to the election. "For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it," she previously said.
Now, Kerstin Emhoff has brought Melania Trump into the conversation, responding to a post from someone who said she was more supportive than the former first lady.
Kerstin Emhoff retweeted a post with 2.6 million views on X (formerly Twitter) that reads: "Kamala's husband's ex-wife is supporting her more enthusiastically than Trump's current wife is supporting him." Alongside the caption was a photo Emhoff had shared of herself at the Democratic National Convention on Monday.
She added: "Damn right [oncoming fist emoji]."
At the time of writing, her post had been viewed 1.1 million times.
The photo that Kerstin Emhoff shared of herself at the DNC has also gone viral. She captioned the image, which had been viewed 2.4 million times at the time of writing, "Who's here? [starry-eyed emoji] So excited for this week! [American flag emoji]"
Since her husband's tenure as president ended on January 20, 2021, Melania Trump has largely kept a low profile. She has missed several important events, including his Super Tuesday primary election victory party and was absent from the courtroom amid his legal cases, such as his hush money trial in New York. However, she did attend the Republican National Convention (RNC).
This is in stark contrast to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential run, when she gave a number of speeches throughout the year.
Kerstin and Doug Emhoff were married from 1992 to 2008 before he wed Harris in 2014. Kerstin Emhoff is the founder and CEO of production company Prettybird, and by all accounts maintains a good relationship with her ex-husband.
In her memoir, The Truths We Hold, Harris wrote: "I had—and have—tremendous admiration and respect for Kerstin. I could tell from the way Doug talked about his kids that she was a terrific mother—and in later months, as Kerstin and I got to know each other, we really hit it off ourselves and became friends. (We sometimes joke that our modern family is almost a little too functional.)"
Harris' stepchildren have been known to refer to their stepmother as "Momala."
"The thing about blended families," Harris told CNN in 2020, "if everyone approaches it in the way that there's plenty of love to share, then it works."
A Blending of Family and Politics
Emhoff's public support of Harris has sparked conversation about the role of family in politics and how it impacts public perception. Some have pointed out that Emhoff's public support of Harris could be seen as a strategic move to garner votes for the vice president. Others have said that it is simply a reflection of her personal support for Harris.
Regardless of the reason, Emhoff's public support of Harris has clearly had an impact on the public discourse. It has also raised questions about the role of family members in political campaigns. Some have argued that family members should be able to remain out of the public eye, while others have said that their involvement can be helpful in connecting with voters.
Emhoff's Support for Harris: A Sign of Things to Come?
Emhoff's support of Harris, both public and private, has been a constant throughout the campaign. This is a stark contrast to the situation in the Trump campaign, where Melania Trump has largely remained out of the public eye. This contrast has only served to further fuel speculation about the nature of Melania Trump's support for her husband's political ambitions.
The fact that Emhoff, a private citizen, has chosen to be so vocal in her support of Harris has sparked debate about the role of family members in political campaigns. Some have argued that family members should be able to remain out of the public eye, while others have said that their involvement can be helpful in connecting with voters.
The Impact of Family on Politics
The debate over the role of family in politics is likely to continue as the 2024 election cycle heats up. In the meantime, Emhoff's public support for Harris has provided a valuable case study in the impact that family members can have on political campaigns. It remains to be seen whether Emhoff's actions will be emulated by other family members of political candidates in the future. But one thing is certain: the role of family in politics is likely to remain a topic of discussion for years to come.
The Future of Family in Politics
It is unclear what the future holds for the role of family in politics. However, one thing is certain: the public will be watching closely to see how family members choose to navigate the increasingly complex and often fraught world of politics.
A Blended Family, a United Front
The Harris-Emhoff family is a great example of a blended family that has found a way to thrive. They have found a way to support each other, both public and private, and have created a strong family unit. It is possible that other families in politics will be able to follow their example. However, it is also possible that the role of family in politics will continue to be a source of debate and controversy.
It is clear that Emhoff's public support of Harris has had a significant impact on the public discourse. It has also raised questions about the role of family members in political campaigns. These are important questions that deserve to be debated and discussed. Only time will tell how the role of family in politics will evolve.
