Doug Emhoff revealed what world leaders told him at the Olympics about his wife Kamala Harris‘ campaign for president.
The second gentleman led the U.S. delegation for the Summer Games closing ceremony while Harris was campaigning back in the United States.
‘I cannot tell you,’ Emhoff said, ‘how many leaders here have already whispered to me: ‘Thank you. You need to win.’
He made his comments at a fundraiser in Paris for his wife’s campaign, the Washington Post reported.
Doug Emhoff took a selfie with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at the women’s basketball final at the Olympics
Jill Biden was originally scheduled to headline the event but Emhoff took over after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race.
Judith Pisar – the mother of Secretary of State Antony Blinken – was co-host of the fundraisers, which was for Americans living abroad. It raised $285,000.
Emhoff’s comment echoed a story Joe Biden often tells about his interactions with the global community. President Biden claims that after he won the 2020 election he reassured fellow world leaders America was ‘back’ after Donald Trump pursued a more isolationist strategy.
Biden also claimed that world leaders told him repeatedly he needed to beat Trump in 2024.
‘There’s not a major international meeting I attend that, before it’s over, and I’ve attended many, more than most presidents have in three and a half years, that a world leader doesn’t pull me aside as I’m leaving and say, ‘He can’t win. You can’t let him win,” Biden told Time magazine.
Biden exited the race in July after heavy pressure from Democrats who worried that he would lose the White House and led the party to defeat in House and Senate races.
Harris secured enough delegates to replace him as the Democratic nominee. That elevated Emhoff’s profile from the spouse of the vice president to – potentially – the first first gentleman of the United States.
He seemed ready for the upcoming election, talking enthusiastically about what was to come.
Doug Emhoff with the women’s soccer team after their gold medal win
French president Emmanuel Macron and second gentleman Douglas Emhoff cheer in the second half between the United States and France in the women’s gold medal game
At the fundraiser, Emhoff also said he ‘cannot wait’ to see Harris debate Trump.
He also praised his wife’s choice of runningmate: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz.
‘We have our ticket!’ he said. ‘She made the right choice,’ he added. ‘You see the chemistry between them.’
But he had other duties in Paris than politics.
Emhoff, who is Jewish, attended events focused on combatting antisemitism and he also was cheerleader-in-chief for Team USA.
He cheered on the men’s basketball team in their come-from-behind win against Serbia.
Playing in that game were LeBron James – who plays for the L.A. Lakers, which is Emhoff’s team – and Stephen Curry, who plays for the Golden State Warriors, which is Harris’ team.
Emhoff was also on hand – along with French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte – and late night host Jimmy Fallon to watch team USA beat France to win the gold in women’s basketball.
He posted a selfie with the Macrons from the game.
The second gentleman was in the stands women’s soccer team won their first gold medal since 2012. And he cheered from the sidelines for track and field events.
He also had some more somber events.
Prince Albert II of Monaco, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, his wife Queen Silvia, former Queen Sofia of Spain, and US Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff attend the Closing Ceremony
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff and Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo mark the anniversary of 1982 terrorist attack on a Jewish restaurant
Doug Emhoff bought a falafel sandwich on the streets of Paris
Emhoff joined Parisians in marking the anniversary of 1982 terrorist attack on a Jewish restaurant by a PLO splinter group.
Six people were killed in that attack, including two Americans, and 22 were wounded.
And, in his role of second gentleman, Emhoff addressed a UNESCO roundtable, in which he said the Biden administration is working with Congress to support a $2.2 million grant for UNESCO’s international program on Holocaust and genocide education.
Emhoff has embraced his faith to become the administration’s lead voice on antisemitism.
‘Jews — Jews just like me — they’re living in fear,’ Emhoff said in Paris: ‘I love being Jewish. And I love the joy that comes with being Jewish. And I’m not going to let anyone tell me how to be Jewish, or what to do about being Jewish.’
