Politics
Trump Removes Doug Emhoff, Other Biden Appointees From Government Council
President Donald Trump has fired former Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, along with others nominated by former President Joe Biden, from the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council.
“Today, I was informed of my removal from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council,” Emhoff announced in a statement Tuesday. He went on to accuse the Trump Administration of “politicizing” holocaust remembrance by removing him from the council.
“Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized. To turn one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous — and it dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.”
During his tenure in the White House, President Biden notably removed dozens of Trump appointees from long-standing government councils and agencies, including former Press Secretary Sean Spicer. Biden’s purge was ultimately upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, paving the way for Trump to return the favor.
“Now all of these Biden appointees are paying the price for what Biden did,” Spicer told Breitbart News in response to the firings.
The other officials who were dismissed include Ron Klain, who previously served as Biden’s chief of staff, Susan Rice, the national security adviser to former President Barack Obama, former labor secretary and Democratic National Committee chair Tom Perez, and Anthony Bernal, a senior advisor to former First Lady Jill Biden.
Chicago, Illinois, August 20, 2024, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois. (Maxim Elramsisy)
Emhoff’s dismissal is particularly notable after the Biden Administration had tasked him with formulating a “strategy” to combat antisemitism. The strategy faced heavy criticism from pro-Israel groups due to its failure to reign in campus anti-Israel protests and antisemitic attacks, as well as reports that it was crafted with help from the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
The controversial organization has long faced criticism due to its support of radical islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.
Presidential appointees to such councils are supposed to last five years, though the White House confirmed the firings in a statement on Tuesday. “President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust, but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The museum acknowledged the firings in a statement of their own but refused to address them, stating that continued cooperation with the Trump Administration is of the utmost importance.
“At this time of high antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial, the Museum is gratified that our visitation is robust and demand for Holocaust education is increasing. We look forward to continuing to advance our vitally important mission as we work with the Trump Administration,” the statement reads.
