Doug Emhoff criticizes Governor Sanders’ comments on Kamala Harris’ lack of biological children

Doug Emhoff criticizes Governor Sanders' comments on Kamala Harris' lack of biological children

Second gentleman Doug Emhoff blasted remarks made by Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who said Vice President Kamala Harris “doesn’t have anything to keep her humble” because she does not have biological children.

“We know that all parents, no matter how you become one, make the same sacrifices and revel in the same joys of raising children as any parent anywhere,” Emhoff defended his wife while speaking at a campaign event in Brooklyn, New York, Wednesday evening.

“As if keeping women humble, whether you have children or not, is something we should strive for. It is not,” the second gentleman said. “Women in this country will never humble themselves before Donald Trump.”

Emhoff referred to Sanders’ comment as “unbelievable,” and he expressed his appreciation for his wife, ex-wife Kerstin Emhoff, and their “big, beautiful, blessed family.”

Harris is the stepmom to Cole and Ella Emhoff, her husband’s children from his first marriage.

Kerstin Emhoff jumped to Harris’ defense as well, responding to a video of Sanders on X.

In this Aug. 20, 2024 file photo Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff exits after speaking during the Democratic National Convention (DNC) at the United Center in Chicago.

Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE

“Kamala Harris has spent her entire career working for the people, ALL families. That keeps you pretty humble,” she wrote Tuesday.

Sanders had been speaking at a Michigan town hall with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday when she made the comments. “So my kids keep me humble. Unfortunately, Kamala Harris doesn’t have anything keeping her humble,” she said.

Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends a town hall meeting moderated by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) at the Dort Financial Center in Flint, Mich., on Sept. 17, 2024.

Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

During a visit Wednesday to a Bitcoin bar in Greenwich Village, New York, Trump was asked about Sanders’ remarks and whether Harris should be attacked for not having biological children.

“Well, I just don’t know what I think about it, you know,” Trump said during the event.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance previously commented on Harris and other women for not having children with his well-known “childless cat ladies” comment.

In the 2021 clip, which only recently resurfaced, Vance accused Harris and the Democrats of being “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are miserable at their own lives and the choices that they’ve made, and so they want to make the rest of the country miserable too.”

There has been much backlash to Vance’s remark, and some have even made mocked the comment by making it their own. Most famously, Taylor Swift signed her endorsement for Harris as a “childless cat lady.”

ABC News’ Will McDuffie, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow, and Chris Donovan contributed to this report.

Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, has recently spoken out against comments made by Governor Sanders regarding his wife’s lack of biological children. In a recent interview, Sanders suggested that Harris’ decision not to have children of her own may impact her ability to understand the struggles of parents and families in America.

Emhoff quickly came to his wife’s defense, stating that Sanders’ comments were not only insensitive but also completely unfounded. He emphasized that Harris has always been a strong advocate for families and children, despite not having biological children of her own. Emhoff pointed out that Harris has been a stepmother to his two children from a previous marriage and has always been a supportive and loving figure in their lives.

Furthermore, Emhoff highlighted Harris’ track record of fighting for policies that benefit families, such as paid family leave, affordable childcare, and access to quality education. He emphasized that Harris’ personal choices regarding motherhood should not be used to diminish her qualifications or dedication to serving the American people.

It is important to remember that not all women are able or choose to have biological children, and their worth should not be judged based on their reproductive choices. As Vice President Harris continues to make history as the first female, Black, and South Asian Vice President of the United States, it is crucial to focus on her accomplishments and qualifications rather than her personal life choices.

In conclusion, Doug Emhoff’s response to Governor Sanders’ comments serves as a reminder that women should not be defined by their reproductive choices. Vice President Harris’ commitment to serving the American people and advocating for families should be recognized and celebrated, regardless of whether she has biological children or not. It is time to move past outdated stereotypes and focus on the qualifications and accomplishments of our leaders.