At a swearing-in ceremony on Friday, January 3, the husband of Republican Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) made headlines after he refused to shake Vice President Kamala Harris’ hand, creating an awkward moment that quickly went viral.
Sen. Fischer was all smiles as she was sworn in for her third term in the U.S. Senate, standing alongside her husband, Bruce Fischer. But things got a little chilly when Sen. Fischer nudged her husband, encouraging him to move closer to the vice president. Bruce was holding a cane with one hand and a Bible with the other, seemingly uncomfortable with the situation.
In an attempt to ease the tension, Harris jokingly said, “It’s OK, I won’t bite. I’m not going to bite. Don’t worry,” but Bruce kept his focus on the Bible, avoiding eye contact and the handshake.
After Sen. Fischer completed her oath and shook Harris’ hand, thanking her for the ceremony, Harris turned to Bruce to offer her congratulations. His response? A brief “thank you,” followed by dropping his left hand into his pants pocket, which seemed to catch Harris off guard.
Despite the chilly exchange, Sen. Fischer posted photos from the event on social media, emphasizing the importance of standing together.
