No one was expecting to see this on tape. Harris and the Democrats are desperately looking to move on from this.
Because a leaked video of a GOP senator and Kamala Harris sent Leftists into a tailspin.
Liberal commentators criticized Bruce Fischer, the elderly husband of Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), after a video surfaced appearing to show him declining to shake Vice President Kamala Harris’ hand during last Friday’s swearing-in ceremony.
However, a closer look at the footage revealed that Bruce was holding his cane in the hand typically used for handshakes, shedding new light on the viral encounter.
The moment unfolded as Harris presided over the swearing-in ceremony. She shook Sen. Fischer’s hand, thanked her for her service, and turned to Bruce, extending her hand and saying, “Congratulations to you.”
Bruce responded with a polite “Thank you” but did not shake her hand. His apparent rebuff prompted Harris to awkwardly withdraw her hand and raise her eyebrows before posing for a photo alongside the Fischers.
Sen. Deb Fischer’s husband just refused to shake Kamala’s hand.
This is a truly amazing moment. It epitomizes how America really feels about Kamala Harris. pic.twitter.com/oaJKCMuNaF
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 6, 2025
Although the interaction passed without incident in the room, it began to gain traction online days later, with Leftists accusing Bruce of intentionally snubbing the vice president.
“The husband of a Republican senator just refused to shake hands or make eye contact with Vice President Harris. The level of class you can expect from MAGA,” Leftist podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen posted on X.
Radio host Roland Martin offered a harsher critique: “@SenatorFischer’s a—hole husband, Bruce, wouldn’t even look her in the eye. In the FULL video, he didn’t even want to stand next to her! Stop making excuses. He QUICKLY put his hand in his pocket so as not to touch her.”
Author Don Winslow went a step further, writing, “It’s disgraceful that Bruce Fischer, husband to incoming GOP Senator Deb Fischer, cannot muster a few seconds of class to shake the hands of @VP Kamala Harris. States. IMO, only thing Bruce showed here was that pigs don’t only live on farms. He is a pig.”
The comments regarding the video weren’t limited to liberal voices. Some conservatives also weighed in, with Newsmax host David J. Harris Jr. saying, “WOW! Nebraska Senator Deb Fischer’s husband REFUSED to shake Kamala’s hand and can barely look her in the eye. Thank you, sir, for representing every American whose lives were destroyed by her and Joe’s policies.”
Others defended Bruce, pointing to alternative angles of the video showing his right hand occupied by his cane.
“Lots of folks commenting (positively or negatively) on Sen. Deb Fischer’s husband not shaking Kamala’s hand. The clipped video does not show that the hand the VP tried to shake was holding on to a cane,” Federalist editor-in-chief Mollie Hemingway clarified in a post on X.
Lots of folks commenting (positively or negatively) on Sen. Deb Fischer's husband not shaking Kamala's hand. The clipped video does not show that the hand the VP tried to shake was holding on to a cane. https://t.co/blA1RIVsmI pic.twitter.com/gYBT3FWdYC
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 6, 2025
Bruce’s interaction with Harris wasn’t the only highlight of Sen. Fischer’s eventful week. After securing a hard-fought victory in her 2024 re-election campaign against independent challenger Dan Osborn, Fischer participated as a teller in Monday’s congressional certification of the presidential election results.
On Nov. 5th, we voted for a safer and more affordable America.
Today, I served as a teller for the U.S. Senate while we certified President Trump's historic 2024 election victory. I’m excited for what lies ahead under his leadership—together we will build a stronger America!
— Senator Deb Fischer (@SenatorFischer) January 6, 2025
While the moment between Bruce and Harris sparked polarized reactions online, the full context suggests the encounter may have been more of an awkward misunderstanding than a deliberate slight.
As debates over the incident continue, it underscores the often outsized role viral moments play in shaping public perception, especially in today’s divided world of politics.
Stay tuned to the Conservative Column.
