Emhoff says 3 college presidents showed a 'lack of moral clarity' on antisemitism

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff speaks during the Annual National Menorah Lighting at the White House on Dec. 7, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff said on Thursday that a "crisis of antisemitism" was making it difficult for many Jews in America to celebrate Hanukkah, and singled out for criticism the presidents of three elite universities for their Capitol Hill testimony this week about antisemitism on campus.

Speaking at a ceremony to light the National Menorah, Emhoff cited the testimony as an example of why many Jews have felt "feeling unmoored and afraid" because of backlash to Israel's military response in Gaza to the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas.