Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Tuesday ripped up her copy of President Trump‘s prepared remarks at the conclusion of his State of the Union address.
As Trump finished speaking and most lawmakers stood to applaud, Pelosi stood, took the printed copy of Trump’s speech and tore it in half. She placed the shredded copy in a stack on the dais as Trump made his way to greet members of Congress.
Flashback: 11 Years Ago Marco Rubio Correctly Predicted How Obama’s Iran Move Would Backfire
Trump tells Starmer aircraft carriers no longer needed in Mideast, accuses him of joining war US ‘already won’
Arizona governor vetoes Charlie Kirk memorial license plate sparking GOP outrage: ‘This bill falls short’
Noem thanks Trump for new Shield of the Americas special envoy role after DHS ouster
Trump and first lady attend dignified transfer for 6 US troops killed in Kuwait
Supreme Court Will Hear Lawsuit Over Blaming Oil Companies for Climate Change
White House’s bombastic Iran war media blitz breaks from precedent, shocking critics
Farage slams British prime minister for ‘extraordinary’ lack of support for Trump’s Iran strikes
‘Smarter Than Most of You!’: Biden Launches Bizarre Defense of His Stuttering at Jesse Jackson Memorial Service
Trump Warns ‘Loser of the Middle East’ Iran That ‘Complete Destruction and Certain Death’ Is Imminent
FBI captures Bangladeshi fugitive extradited in massive online child sextortion case
Shark attack deaths surge above decade average in 2025
Trump says ‘hatred’ between Putin, Zelenskyy blocking Ukraine peace deal
Trump touts US has ‘tremendous’ amount of Venezuelan oil, vows to ‘take care’ of Cuba after Iran focus
Major Hospital Stops Providing Some Trans Surgeries to Adults
.@SpeakerPelosi tears up of State of the Union speech.#SOTU #SOTU2020 pic.twitter.com/sIpi4G7KsL
— CSPAN (@cspan) February 5, 2020
Asked afterward why she tore the speech up, Pelosi told reporters it was “the courteous thing to do given the alternative.”
The moment capped a tense address from Trump that started when the president appeared to snub Pelosi’s offer of a handshake.
Pelosi largely seemed to avoid looking at Trump throughout the address, instead reading from his prepared remarks and scanning the room.
She and other Democrats stood and applauded only periodically, even as Republicans regularly gave ovations. Pelosi could be seen subtly shaking her head “no” when Trump pledged to protect Medicare and Social Security as well as rejecting his claim that Democrats want to provide “unlimited health care” for undocumented immigrants.
Flashback: 11 Years Ago Marco Rubio Correctly Predicted How Obama’s Iran Move Would Backfire
Trump tells Starmer aircraft carriers no longer needed in Mideast, accuses him of joining war US ‘already won’
Arizona governor vetoes Charlie Kirk memorial license plate sparking GOP outrage: ‘This bill falls short’
Noem thanks Trump for new Shield of the Americas special envoy role after DHS ouster
Trump and first lady attend dignified transfer for 6 US troops killed in Kuwait
Supreme Court Will Hear Lawsuit Over Blaming Oil Companies for Climate Change
White House’s bombastic Iran war media blitz breaks from precedent, shocking critics
Farage slams British prime minister for ‘extraordinary’ lack of support for Trump’s Iran strikes
‘Smarter Than Most of You!’: Biden Launches Bizarre Defense of His Stuttering at Jesse Jackson Memorial Service
Trump Warns ‘Loser of the Middle East’ Iran That ‘Complete Destruction and Certain Death’ Is Imminent
FBI captures Bangladeshi fugitive extradited in massive online child sextortion case
Shark attack deaths surge above decade average in 2025
Trump says ‘hatred’ between Putin, Zelenskyy blocking Ukraine peace deal
Trump touts US has ‘tremendous’ amount of Venezuelan oil, vows to ‘take care’ of Cuba after Iran focus
Major Hospital Stops Providing Some Trans Surgeries to Adults
The speech came weeks after the House impeached Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress and one day before the GOP-controlled Senate is likely to vote to acquit him.
Pelosi also made waves at Trump’s State of the Union last year, when her pointed applause at Trump calling for an end to “revenge politics” went viral.
Story cited here.
