House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s disastrous decision to shred a printed copy of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech drew widespread condemnation.
But now, the Democratic leader admits one of the event’s most heartwarming moments nearly stopped her from carrying out the stunt.
During a Saturday interview on CNN, Pelosi explained that her distaste of Trump’s speech overrode any reverence for a returning war hero, ultimately leading her to rip up a printed copy of the remarks on live television.
Pelosi told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour that she tore the speech up due to the number of alleged lies on it.
“I thought if I can find a page that doesn’t have a falsehood on it, I’ll spare it, but I couldn’t find that,” Pelosi explained.
When Army Sgt. 1st Class Townsend Williams shocked his attending family by revealing that he had returned from Afghanistan, Pelosi said she hesitated.
Trump touts ‘fantastic trade deals’ in final Xi meeting amid tariff standoff
Trump reveals Xi’s stance on arming Iran as Hormuz tensions rattle markets
Trump says Xi agreed US became a ‘declining nation’ during Biden years
US moving to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro: source
Gavin Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to 3 Federal Charges, Faces 38 Years in Prison
McMaster revives Trump-backed push to oust Biden kingmaker from Congress
Fox News Crew Snared by China’s Massive Surveillance System While Covering Trump Visit: ‘They See Everything’
Absurd: China Literally Changes Marco Rubio’s Name During Trip – Lets Communists Avoid Admitting They Made a Huge Mistake
Man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
Border Patrol Chief Resigns: ‘It Is Time’
Highest-ranking Tren de Aragua member ever extradited to US set to appear in Houston courtroom: DOJ
China cozies up as Trump touts delegation of richest business heavyweights at Xi summit
Cuba says CIA chief Ratcliffe met with officials in Havana amid US tensions
Video: ‘CBS Evening News’ Broadcast Ends in Disarray as Crew Member Suffers ‘Medical Emergency’
Supreme Court keeps broader access to abortion pill mifepristone in place while legal fight continues
After all, the moment was downright magical.
Williams’ wife and young children were blown away and brought to tears by their returned soldier. The reunion made headlines, and quickly became an iconic moment in the address.
For Pelosi, the effect was fleeting.
“I almost did [find a page without a falsehood on it] when the soldier was coming home, that was so beautiful,” Pelosi said. “But get back to the bottom of the page and there [Trump] goes again.”
Although many have dismissed her shredding of Trump’s address as part of a furious tantrum, evidence hints it was planned well ahead of the actual action.
Trump touts ‘fantastic trade deals’ in final Xi meeting amid tariff standoff
Trump reveals Xi’s stance on arming Iran as Hormuz tensions rattle markets
Trump says Xi agreed US became a ‘declining nation’ during Biden years
US moving to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro: source
Gavin Newsom’s Former Chief of Staff Pleads Guilty to 3 Federal Charges, Faces 38 Years in Prison
McMaster revives Trump-backed push to oust Biden kingmaker from Congress
Fox News Crew Snared by China’s Massive Surveillance System While Covering Trump Visit: ‘They See Everything’
Absurd: China Literally Changes Marco Rubio’s Name During Trip – Lets Communists Avoid Admitting They Made a Huge Mistake
Man shot at In-N-Out drive-thru drove family to safety with bullet lodged in head
Border Patrol Chief Resigns: ‘It Is Time’
Highest-ranking Tren de Aragua member ever extradited to US set to appear in Houston courtroom: DOJ
China cozies up as Trump touts delegation of richest business heavyweights at Xi summit
Cuba says CIA chief Ratcliffe met with officials in Havana amid US tensions
Video: ‘CBS Evening News’ Broadcast Ends in Disarray as Crew Member Suffers ‘Medical Emergency’
Supreme Court keeps broader access to abortion pill mifepristone in place while legal fight continues
Midway through the president’s speech, Pelosi can be seen starting tears on the pages, presumably to make her final act as smooth as possible.
The fallout from her behavior was devastating, and reporters hounded her about the move despite the House speaker’s obvious frustration with her mistake being headline news.
Putting a political show over our country’s own war heroes is a shocking new low for Pelosi, one that she is unlikely to live down for the rest of her career in office.
This brand of political showboating isn’t unique to the House speaker, and with the 2020 elections now in view, Democrats’ antics are virtually guaranteed to get worse.
Story cited here.
