In a recent interview with ESPN radio host Dan Le Batard, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff shared a rather colorful exchange with his wife, Kamala Harris, following President Joe Biden’s unexpected decision to suspend his candidacy. Emhoff recounted the tense moment when Harris allegedly cursed him out, demanding he “get back to work” as she grappled with the unexpected news.
The announcement, which took place on July 21, came as a shock to many, given it arrived after the Democratic primary process had concluded. While Biden initially withheld an endorsement, he later threw his support behind Harris, effectively handing her the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. The decision followed calls for an open primary from Barack Obama, with support from top Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer.
Reflecting on the moment, Emhoff explained that he was at a spin class in Los Angeles when he received the news. “I was in L.A. It was during that weekend when all the planes were down because of the software glitch. So I had to spend an extra day in L.A.,” he recounted. Without his phone in hand, Emhoff learned of the announcement from a friend. “I’m like, ‘gotta go,’ and just ran into the car. There was my phone. Literally, you could feel the steam, seven or eight messages, all with, you know, ‘where are you, call Kamala, call Kamala.’”
When he finally reached Harris, Emhoff was met with frustration. “It was a one-minute or less conversation which started with, ‘where the F were you? I need you right now,’” he recalled. “And basically, ‘get to work.’ And I did.”
NEW: Doug Emhoff says his wife Kamala cussed at him and told him to "get to work" when Joe Biden dropped out of the race because he was in a spin class.
Emhoff says his wife, who once forced staff to refer to her as 'The General,' was fuming when he missed her call.
"I just ran… pic.twitter.com/dkQEBNCwnx
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) October 15, 2024
Emhoff’s personal life has also been under scrutiny since Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. In 2021, the Daily Mail reported on Emhoff’s past affair with his former nanny, Najen Naylor, who was also a teacher at their children’s school. Emhoff acknowledged the affair, which contributed to the end of his marriage to his first wife, Kerstin. Naylor, who reportedly did not keep the child, left her job as a teacher after the scandal broke.
The Daily Mail also surfaced allegations of physical altercations, with three sources claiming Emhoff once slapped an ex-girlfriend in public. Emhoff has vehemently denied these claims, with a spokesperson stating, “any suggestion that he would or has ever hit a woman is false.”
As the 2024 race heats up, Emhoff’s controversial past adds a complicated layer to Harris’s campaign. His public and personal challenges could become fodder for opponents as they vie for the White House.