Trump Removes Biden Appointees from Holocaust Museum Board, Jokes About Papal Succession

Former President Donald Trump has removed several Biden administration appointees from the United States Holocaust Memorial Council, the governing body of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Among those dismissed were Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, along with former White House officials including Anthony Bernal, Ron Klain, Tom Perez, and Susan Rice.

The dismissals came shortly after Holocaust Remembrance Day in the United States, prompting criticism from Emhoff, who characterized the move as unnecessarily divisive.

"Holocaust remembrance and education should not be a political wedge issue," Emhoff stated in response to his removal from the council.

Trump's action breaks with traditional practice and follows a pattern of removing appointees from the previous administration across various government boards, including the Kennedy Center and Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

In unrelated comments that have drawn attention, Trump recently joked about the eventual succession of Pope Francis. When asked who should be the next pope, Trump quipped that he was his own top choice before suggesting New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan as a potential successor. Vatican experts note that an American pope would be highly unlikely when the papal conclave eventually convenes.