Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff’s daughter and ex-wife set the record straight after Ohio Republican Senator JD Vance's comments referring to Vice President Kamala Harris as "childless" re-emerged.
In a statement to NBC News, Kerstin Emhoff called Vance’s attacks “baseless,” adding, “For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala has been a co-parent with Doug and I. She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.”
Ella Emhoff, chimed in on her Instagram story, posting “How can you be ‘childless’ when you have cutie pie kids like Cole and I?" Adding, “I love my three parents.”
Among Vice President Kamala Harris's many distinguished titles, "Momala" is the one she cherishes most. Given to her by her stepchildren Cole and Ella Emhoff, son and daughter of first Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, the nickname endeared itself to millions of Americans since inauguration day back in January 2021. It marked, among many firsts, the first time a stepparent served as Vice President.
The siblings made quite a memorable entrance at their Momala's inauguration ceremony on Wednesday (January 20), thanks in part to art student Ella's statuesque posture and her embellished Miu Miu coat. (Twitter was giddy at the thought of Ella serving four more years of incredible looks).
So, what else is there to know about the Second Stepchildren? Let's take a look.
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Cole Emhoff
While Cole doesn't have the same fashion sense as his sister — she won't let him forget about the time he showed up to the vice presidential debates in shorts and Birkenstocks — he does have a degree in psychology from Colorado College. (That probably explains the Birkenstocks.)
When Cole first met Kamala, he was a senior in high school and nearing graduation. In an interview with Glamour, he described those initial conversations with Kamala at the family dinner table. "We would just have these real conversations at dinner, almost Socratic, where we would all bounce off each other," he said. "It’s so interesting when I hear her speak publicly or read about her policy position. I’m like, 'Okay, I’ve seen that reflected at the dinner table, so I know it’s true to her.'"
As for what he's up to today, following in his producer mom Kerstin Mackin's Hollywood footsteps, Cole works for Plan B Entertainment, Brad Pitt's production studio, in Los Angeles. Cole married Greenley Littlejohn in October 2024, and stepmom Harris officiated the vows.
Ella Emhoff
Ella graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York in 2021. The Brooklyn resident affectionately called “The First Daughter of Bushwick” specializes in knitwear and textile art, and you can check out her vibrant designs on Instagram. The same year, the artist was signed by IMG Models and has modeled for fashion houses including Balenciaga. She also attended the 2021 Met Gala wearing Adidas by Stella McCartney.
In an interview with Garage, she revealed that she started knitting to help quell her anxiety. She also expresses herself and her interests through painting, ceramics, and stick-and-poke tattoos. "Luckily Doug and Kamala don’t really see my Instagram," she told The New York Times in 2021. A mix of bright, color-clashing pastels and cool-toned, classic silhouettes, Ella described her personal style as “very chaotic.”
This story has been updated to include the most recent information on Harris's family. It was originally published on January 20, 2021.
