Holocaust Council Shakeup: Trump Replaces Biden Nominees
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum board is undergoing changes under President Donald Trump’s administration.
On Tuesday, April 29, Doug Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, announced his removal from the council. Former President Joe Biden had appointed Emhoff and other senior White House officials on January 17.
Presidential council appointments typically last five years, with the council convening twice annually. The 68-member council comprises 55 presidential appointees, five members from the Senate, five from the House of Representatives, and three former members from the Departments of State, Interior, and Education, as detailed in the council’s January 17 announcement.
The museum, a nonprofit federal institution, educates visitors about the millions of lives lost during the Holocaust. Congress authorized its creation in 1980, and it opened its doors in 1993.
Emhoff made history as the first Jewish spouse of a president or vice president and has been a vocal advocate against antisemitism.
“Today, I was informed of my removal from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council,” Emhoff stated. “Holocaust remembrance and education should never be politicized. Turning one of the worst atrocities in history into a wedge issue is dangerous and dishonors the memory of six million Jews murdered by Nazis that this museum was created to preserve.”
He concluded, “No divisive political decision will ever shake my commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education or to combating hate and antisemitism. I will continue to speak out, to educate, and to fight hate in all its forms because silence is never an option.”
According to a statement, “President Trump looks forward to appointing new individuals who will not only continue to honor the memory of those who perished in the Holocaust but who are also steadfast supporters of the State of Israel,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary.
Mary Sprowls, an employee in the White House Presidential Personnel Office, sent an email on Tuesday to those who were “terminated, effective immediately.” The number of individuals affected remains unclear, but some appointees who did not serve under Biden reported not receiving termination letters as of Tuesday afternoon. These actions followed Holocaust Remembrance Day by five days.
Former Rhode Island Representative David Cicilline, appointed by Biden in March 2024 and removed on Tuesday, stated, “The museum’s work has always been nonpartisan and should remain so. It is meant to challenge us all to think critically and clearly about our role in society, to confront antisemitism and all other forms of hate.”
The Museum’s statement indicated, “At this time of high antisemitism and Holocaust distortion and denial, the museum is gratified that our visitation is robust and demand for Holocaust education is increasing. We look forward to continuing to advance our vitally important mission as we work with the Trump administration.”
Representatives for the White House and the Holocaust Memorial Museum did not immediately respond to requests for more information on Tuesday.
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