White House hosts Jewish leaders to discuss anti-Semitism 'epidemic'

The White House hosted Jewish leaders Wednesday to discuss what the Jewish husband of Vice President Kamala Harris called an "epidemic" of anti-Semitism in the United States.

Douglas Emhoff, whose official title is second gentleman, headlined the roundtable for a range of Jewish community leaders. With Harris the first woman ever in the vice presidency, Emhoff is not only the first man to be in the spousal role, but also the first Jew.

"Our community is in pain," he said, referring to a spate of anti-Semitic incidents around the country and also the high-profile association between former president Donald Trump and outspoken antisemite Ye -- the rapper previously known as Kanye West.

Trump, Ye and the notorious white nationalist Nick Fuentes recently had dinner together at the former Republican president's Florida golf club.

"There's an epidemic of hate facing our country," Emhoff said. "People are no longer saying the quiet parts out loud. They are literally screaming them."

"I will not remain silent. I am proud to be Jewish. I'm proud to live openly as a Jew. I am not afraid. I refuse to be afraid," Emhoff said.

According to the ADL, or Anti-Defamation League, there were 2,717 anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2021 -- a 34 percent increase over the previous year and the highest number recorded since the organisation began monitoring in 1979.