Sen. Deb Fischer (left) reenacts being sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris (right) during a ceremonial swearing ceremony in the Old Senate Chamber at the Capitol on Friday while Fischer's husband, Bruce, holds the Bible.
A viral online video that some suggest shows Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer’s husband refusing to shake Vice President Kamala Harris’ hand may not tell the whole story.
Truly deciphering what happened has been made more difficult because neither Fischer nor Harris have commented about what appeared to be an awkward moment.
The video posted Monday afternoon shows the quick ceremonial swearing-in held in Washington between Republican Fischer and Democrat Harris.
In it, Harris congratulates Fischer after administering the oath and shakes the senator’s hand, adding “Thank you for your work.â€
Fischer
Harris then turns to Bruce Fischer and offers her hand, asking, “May I give congratulations to you?â€
Bruce Fischer quickly glances at Harris, nods and says “Thank you,†but does not offer up his own hand.
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The group then turns to a photographer and a photo is snapped.Â
What is not easily visible in the video — but which is clear in photographs from the swearing-in ceremony — is that Bruce Fischer is clutching a cane in his right hand, the one Harris reaches to shake.
Images released by Fischer’s office Friday showing her taking the oath and the scene immediately afterward clearly show Bruce Fischer leaning on the cane.
Harris’ reaction is difficult to ascertain from the video. It’s unclear whether she saw the cane in Bruce Fischer's right hand because it was obscured by the Bible used in the swearing in, which he held aloft in his left hand during the ceremony and then handed to his wife right as Harris was offering her hand to him.
Harris then appears to wince, raises her eyebrows and turns to the camera and smiles for the photo.
The video was first posted Monday on X, formerly Twitter, by progressive online commentator and influencer Brian Tyler Cohen. In his post, Cohen wrote, “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.â€
The husband of a Republican senator just refused to shake hands or make eye contact with Vice President Harris.
— No Lie with Brian Tyler Cohen (@NoLieWithBTC)
The level of class you can expect from MAGA.
Within five hours Monday, the video had been viewed more than 4 million times and been reposted more than 8,000 times. By Wednesday afternoon, it had been viewed 18 million times, with 12,000 reposts and 14,000 comments.
As is typical in today’s hyper-partisan world, the online video has produced a range of comments from both conservatives applauding Bruce Fischer to liberals decrying what they saw as a snub.
Some commenters to the post also posted the still photos, pointing out the head of the cane in Bruce Fischer’s right hand.
Fischer's office has not responded to inquiries from the World-Herald first made on Monday or to other media outlets. Harris has also offered no public comments.Â
Photos: Day 1 of the Nebraska Legislature's 2025 session
Nine-year-old Everett Prokop (left) sits in the chair of his father, Sen. Jason Prokop of Lincoln (front right), as he shows family members his desk on the floor of the Legislature on first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
LuRae Hallstrom (left), wife of Sen. Bob Hallstrom of Syracuse (not pictured), shows off her husband's desk to her great grandniece, Lila Belle Niss, 7, on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Jared Storm of David City (from left), Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Omaha, and Sen. Robert Clements of Elmwood speak on the floor of the Legislature during the first day of the 2025 session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Ciara Quick (left) uses a phone to photograph her grandparents, Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island and his wife Alice during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
State senators, legislative staff and friends and family gather on the floor of the Legislature on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Senators gather on the floor of the Legislature during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
A man walks down a hallway during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol in Lincoln.
State senators, legislative staff and friends and family gather on the floor of the Legislature on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly oversees the swearing-in ceremony for new senators during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue joins other senators in prayer during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly (left) speaks with Brandon Metzler, the clerk of the Legislature, before a vote on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Speaker John Arch of Papillion speaks during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Rita Sanders of Bellevue speaks during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Barry DeKay of Niobrara speaks during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Bob Andersen of La Vista (left) raises his hand as he is sworn in alongside other senators during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Sen. Dave Murman of Glenvil speaks during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward speaks during the first day of the legislative session on Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Jared Storm of David City sets up his desk on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Rick Holdcroft of Bellevue refills a candy bowl passed down to him by former Sen. John Lowe (not pictured) during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Dave Wordekemper of Fremont holds his 2-week-old granddaughter Chloe as he takes her around the floor during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
A Nebraska Honor Guard member presents the colors before the Pledge of Allegiance during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
State senators and their friends and family gather on the floor of the Legislature during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Zoe, 6, (left) and Betsy, 7, (right) spend time on the floor with their mother, Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln (center), during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Speaker John Arch of Papillion is sworn in during the first day of the legislative session at the Capitol in Lincoln.
Speaker John Arch of Papillion is sworn in during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Bob Andersen of La Vista (left) has his legislative pin adjusted by his wife, Julie, during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Legislative page Heather Lange places an additional chair next to the desk of Sen. Wendy DeBoer of Bennington (not pictured) during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Mila Sorrentino (left) listens as her grandfather, Sen. Tony Sorrentino of Omaha, shows her how votes are cast from his desk on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Dan Quick of Grand Island speaks on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Kevin Stocker (bottom right)a Nebraska Public Service commissioner, takes a phone call on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Dan Lonowski of Hastings casts his vote for the chair of the Revenue Committee during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Nebraska resident Lia Post wears an embroidered jean jacket during the first day of the Legislature's 2025 session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln speaks on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Beau Ballard of Lincoln smiles during the first day of the legislative session on Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Loren Lippincott of Central City (left) and Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln (center) speak with colleagues on the floor of the Legislature during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Jane Raybould of Lincoln (right) tallies committee chair votes on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the session.
Sen. Jana Hughes of Seward speaks during the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
Sen. Dunixi Guereca of Omaha shakes hands with other senators on the first day of the legislative session Wednesday at the Capitol.
