Psaki Says Kamala Harris’ Husband Has Reshaped Masculinity

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki interviewed Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff on Sunday, discussing the topic of altering the “perception of masculinity.”

Recently, Emhoff has been featured in various media outlets, showing support for his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris. On “Inside with Jen Psaki,” Emhoff emphasized that he’s always strived to “do the right thing” and “support women” when asked about his role in challenging traditional ideas of masculinity.

Jen Psaki absurdly tells Second Gentleperson "Doug" Emhoff: You have "reshaped the perception of masculinity."

🤣🤣🤣🤣
pic.twitter.com/fztqVvDMR7

— Proud Elephant 🇺🇸🦅 (@ProudElephantUS) September 29, 2024

“Something that’s also been an important part, or an interesting part of how people have talked about your role here, is how your role has reshaped the perception of masculinity. I’m not sure you planned on that but you are an incredibly supportive spouse. Has that been an evolution for you? Do you think that’s part of the role you might play as a first gentleman?”

“It’s funny. I started to think a lot about this. I’ve always been like this, my dad was like this and to me it’s the right thing to do, support women. It’s mutual with Kamala and I. We support each other, we have each other’s back. I’ve said many times when we lift up women, we support women, whether it is pay equity, child care, family leave, and all of these issues that [are in] this post-Dobbs hellscape,” Emhoff said.

He went on to explain how elevating women benefits everyone, adding that when women are uplifted, so are families and the broader economy.

“Women should not be less than. Women should not have less rights and be treated differently, that’s not the American way. It’s also not like, if some woman succeeds, some dude out there is suffering. It’s not a one-to-one relationship,” Emhoff continued. “When we lift up women, we lift up families, we lift up the economy. When I was in the business world, it lifted up the organizations that I was in. It certainly lifted up the White House when you were there — with you there and Kamala as vice president, it was a great workplace there.”

After Vice President Harris launched her nationwide abortion tour in December 2023, Emhoff followed with an event addressing how men can support women in the fight for increased access to abortion, according to NBC News.

In early August, the Daily Mail reported that Doug Emhoff allegedly had an affair around 2009 with Najen Naylor, his daughter’s nanny at the time, while still married to his first wife, Kerstin. Naylor, who also taught at his daughter’s private school, allegedly became pregnant but “did not have the baby,” CBS News reported.

Emhoff later acknowledged the affair in a statement to CNN, though he didn’t mention the woman or comment on the reported pregnancy.

“During my first marriage, Kerstin and I went through some tough times on account of my actions. I took responsibility, and in the years since, we worked through things as a family and have come out stronger on the other side,” Emhoff told CNN.