U.S. President Joe Biden made a verbal slip while addressing reporters to inform them that Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, had tested positive for COVID-19. He mistakenly referred to Emhoff as the husband of the First Lady, which caused laughter among the attendees, as that title pertains to Biden himself. He then attempted to correct himself by saying "the second lady," although the correct title is "the second gentleman."
The White House announced on Tuesday that Emhoff, who is the first to hold the title of "second gentleman" following his wife's historic role as the first woman Vice President of the United States, had tested positive for COVID-19. They clarified that Harris underwent testing and received a negative result.
Sabrina Singh, deputy spokesperson for Harris, stated that "the Vice President was tested and received a negative result and will continue to undergo tests." However, after Emhoff's positive result was confirmed, Harris canceled her in-person participation at the White House's Women's History Month celebration.
Biden informed attendees that Harris opted "not to take any risks," adding that "out of an abundance of caution, she decided not to join us today," but reassured them that Emhoff is "doing fine."
