A video of the husband of Republican Senator Deb Fischer refusing to shake hands with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris went viral on Monday, following the awkward encounter in the Senate on Friday.
The clip, shared widely on X, shows Bruce Fischer declining Harris’ extended hand. Cohen captioned the video, “The level of class you can expect from MAGA.”
Bruce Fischer accompanied his wife, who has represented Nebraska in the Senate since 2012, to Friday’s ceremony in Washington, D.C. His apparent snub of the vice president visibly caught Harris off guard as she officiated the event marking the start of the 119th Congress.
The 73-year-old senator, with one hand raised and the other resting on a Bible held by her husband, concluded her oath of office to continue serving the people of Nebraska. Harris and Fischer have interacted multiple times in the past four years, given Harris’ role as a tie-breaker in Senate votes.
Harris proceeded to shake her hand and said, “Congratulations. Thank you for your work”. Turning to Bruce, Harris said: “May I give congratulations to you?” while holding out her hand. Without making eye contact, he replied, “Thank you”, but did not shake her hand.
Harris visibly raised her eyebrows and grimaced as the group turned forward for a photo, during which Bruce Fischer remained unsmiling. When political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen shared the video on Monday, it sparked a flurry of reactions, with some viewers claiming Bruce lacked basic manners or was showcasing the GOP’s true colors.
As vice president, Harris is responsible for overseeing the swearing-in of all newly elected and re-elected senators, a tradition held on January 3 following elections. During Friday’s event, she interacted with lawmakers from both parties, even joking with Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders about where he should stand for the photo.
“Stand right here. Although that is not your nature, to just stand where you’re told to stand, but give it a try,” she told him. Sanders laughed in response.
