Pelosi defends speech-ripping
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday defended her speech-ripping performance after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address and took fresh aim at his fitness for office even as he celebrated his impeachment acquittal.
“That was not a State of the Union,” Pelosi said. “That was his state of mind.”
Pelosi said she felt “very vindicated” by her shredding of a paper copy of Trump’s speech, an action that incensed Republicans and led to a GOP-sponsored resolution of disapproval.
“The conduct of Speaker Pelosi was a breach of decorum and degraded the proceedings of the joint session, to the discredit of the House,” the resolution read. Majority Democrats turned it aside on Thursday afternoon.
Trump had the bully pulpit — and nearly solid Republican support behind him — during his Tuesday State of the Union address. The next day, the Senate acquitted him of the House impeachment.
By Thursday, Trump was waving newspaper headlines reading, “Acquittal” and celebrating the vindication at a White House news conference.
Back in the Capitol, Pelosi defended her decision to rip up her copy behind his back, on camera.
“I’ve extended every possible courtesy. I’ve shown every level of respect,” Pelosi said, describing her public conduct, which included “extending the hand of friendship” to him as Trump arrived.
He did not take her hand.
As Trump spoke, Pelosi said, she started to think, “There has to be something that clearly indicates to the American people that this is not the truth.”
And she decided to shred.
“He has shredded the truth in his speech, shredded the Constitution in his conduct. I shredded the address,” she said. “Thank you all very much.”
