In a revealing new interview, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered a blunt assessment of former President Donald Trump's recent behaviour, citing it as evidence of declining mental faculties.
Pelosi's Stark Critique of Trump's Conduct
Speaking with ABC's Jonathan Karl, the Democratic representative from California confirmed she deliberately avoided watching Trump's prime-time speech earlier this month. Her reason was succinct: "I've had enough of him." Despite not tuning in live, Pelosi later caught clips of the address and formed a damning conclusion.
"I think it was a demonstration of his mental incapacity," Pelosi stated, pointing to the wild nature of the speech. She doubled down on this criticism by referencing another incident from the same period: Trump's verbal attack on filmmaker Rob Reiner, which occurred shortly after Reiner and his wife were tragically found stabbed to death. "Something's wrong there," Pelosi remarked, adding, "And something's wrong with the people around him that they don't stop him from his ridiculousness."
Reflecting on Iconic Political Confrontations
The interview also revisited the now-legendary moments of tension between Pelosi and Trump during his presidency. Pelosi recalled the finger-wagging confrontation at the White House, an image so iconic that she says people still frequently ask her to sign photos of it today.
Perhaps the most memorable clash occurred during the State of the Union address, when Pelosi, standing behind Trump, visibly tore up a copy of his speech. An enraged Trump later falsely claimed the act was "very illegal." In the new interview, Pelosi provided her definitive rationale for the dramatic gesture, calling the document a "manifesto of lies."
A Career Coming to a Close
These reflections come as Pelosi, 85, prepares to leave elected office. After a monumental four-decade career in Congress, she is not seeking re-election this year and will retire upon the conclusion of her current term. Her departure marks the end of an era defined by significant legislative battles and her historic role as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House.
The full interview offers a candid look back at a tumultuous political period from one of its central figures, framing her final interactions with Trump as emblematic of a deeply fractured political landscape.
