The husband of Senator Deb Fischer, Republican of Nebraska, drew criticism online when he failed to accept a handshake offered by Vice President Kamala D. Harris at his wife’s ceremonial swearing-in.

Deb Fischer shook Harris’ hand after completing her oath and thanked the vice president. When Harris expressed congratulations to the senator’s husband, he offered a short “thank you” and then dropped his newly freed left hand and put it in his pants pocket, prompting a raised-eyebrows reaction from Harris.