World
November 1, 2024 11:20
washington - The partners of the American presidential candidates are breaking the traditional 'first lady' mold this time around, causing quite a stir in the campaign.
Traditionally, the spouses of American presidential candidates were seen as dedicated mothers and wives, dressed in suits. This time, however, things are different, especially considering that the White House may get its first First Husband in the person of Doug Emhoff.
Emhoff, the husband of Kamala Harris, has been in the spotlight for various reasons. The 60-year-old lawyer was previously married and had an affair with the nanny, who allegedly became pregnant during that time. This led to the end of his first marriage, from which two children were born.
When Harris became a candidate, the media extensively covered the history. Emhoff apologized for his behavior in August and acknowledged the affair. His ex-wife even came to his aid to contain the situation. The Democratic campaign staff tried to keep the issue away from Harris. Emhoff was temporarily less visible in the campaign, and the media storm eventually subsided.
However, more controversies followed. Emhoff was recently accused by an ex-girlfriend of assaulting her, an incident that allegedly occurred in 2012 during a drunken episode at the Cannes Film Festival, a year before he met Harris on a blind date.
Emhoff denied the allegations this time. The news of the alleged assault contradicted the image that had been created of him as a supportive husband to his ambitious wife. The left-wing press had dubbed it 'the new masculinity'. He had also resumed an important role in the campaign, particularly targeting Jewish voters to convince them that Harris is pro-Israel.
The private scandals surrounding Emhoff could deter undecided female voters, and Republicans were quick to exploit the situation. They criticized the perceived double standards in media coverage, citing less attention to Emhoff's missteps compared to the sexual escapades of Donald Trump. Eric Trump even accused the press of colluding with the Democrats.
Revelations about politicians' partners are of a different nature than the actions of presidential candidates. The restrained reporting on Emhoff contrasts with the excessive focus on former First Lady Melania Trump, which began in the 2016 campaign due to scrutiny over her immigration background and work history in the US.
Eight years later, Melania's conspicuous absence from her husband's campaign sparked various speculations, from punishment for new revelations about his infidelity to a calculated boycott to negotiate better marital terms.
Despite being known for her media-shyness, the 54-year-old Melania has made several appearances in the Republican campaign, including at a rally in Madison Square Garden in New York. The publication of her memoirs in early October was followed by multiple media appearances in which she defended her husband.
Notably, the former First Lady has not played the submissive role critics often attribute to her. She stood out for her outspoken pro-choice abortion stance in her book, different from the conservative views of the Republican presidential candidate. She also claimed to have personally persuaded Trump to adopt a tougher stance on child-parent separations at the border and criticized the security after the assassination attempt on her husband.
American media has now turned its attention to another target: Ivanka Trump. The 43-year-old businesswoman, who had previously played a prominent role in her father's campaigns, is notably absent this time around. While Ivanka had announced her withdrawal from the political arena to focus on her family in 2022, an article in The New York Times questioning her absence led to speculation that she could financially benefit from her father's victory, although such claims were purely speculative.