Trump-Pelosi feud erupts during speech to Congress as impeachment trial nears end

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Trump-Pelosi feud erupts during speech to Congress as impeachment trial nears end

By Steve Holland, David Morgan and Jeff Mason

 

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) rips up U.S. President Donald Trump's speech alongside Vice President Mike Pence following the State of the Union address to a joint session of the U.S. Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., February 4, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bitter feud between U.S. President Donald Trump and top Democrat Nancy Pelosi boiled over at his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, with Trump denying her a handshake and Pelosi ripping apart a copy of his remarks behind his back.

 

Trump avoided the subject of his impeachment drama in a pugnacious 80-minute speech, but the raw wounds from the battle were evident with fellow Republicans giving him standing ovations while rival Democrats for the most part remained seated.

 

Following U.S. President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech, House speaker Nancy Pelosi ripped a paper copy of the speech behind the president's back. Soon after, she explained to reporters why she tore it up.

 

The Republican-led Senate was expected to acquit him of charges he abused his powers and obstructed Congress during a vote beginning at 4 p.m. EST (2100 GMT) on Wednesday.

 

Seeing Pelosi, the U.S. House of Representatives speaker, for the first time since she stormed out of a White House meeting four months ago, Trump declined to shake her outstretched hand as he gave her a paper copy of his remarks before starting to speak.

 

Despite having not spoken to Trump since their last meeting, Pelosi appeared to be taken aback. She avoided citing the customary "high privilege and distinct honour" that usually accompanies the speaker's introduction of the president to Congress.

 

"Members of Congress, the President of the United States" was all she said in introducing Trump.

 

When his speech ended, Pelosi stood and tore up her copy of the remarks he had handed her, later telling reporters it was "the courteous thing to do, considering the alternative."

 

Kayleigh McEnany, Trump's campaign spokeswoman, said of Pelosi: "Her hatred for @realdonaldtrump has blinded her to the repulsive nature of her smug, elitist behaviour."

 

After the event, Pelosi tweeted a photo of her with her hand reaching out to Trump and said, "Democrats will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done #ForThePeople. We will work to find common ground where we can, but will stand our ground where we cannot.

 

#SOTU"

The tension was a sign that little legislative progress should be expected with the presidential election nine months away.

 

The impeachment case has intensified bitter feelings between Trump, a former reality TV star-turned conservative politician, and Pelosi, a California liberal, that have existed throughout his presidency. He routinely calls her "Crazy Nancy" at his campaign rallies.

 

'FOUR MORE YEARS'

As he began the speech, Republicans from both houses of Congress chanted "four more years" while he stood at the lectern in the chamber of the House.

 

Democrats sat silently and some could be seen shaking their heads as Trump declared, "The state of our union is stronger than ever before."

 

Pelosi, who dropped her opposition to impeachment and allowed Democratic lawmakers to seek the charges against him, sat stoically and grim-faced behind Trump and paged through a paper copy of his speech as he spoke.

 

Trump entered the chamber with Democrats experiencing unease and chaos after technical glitches delayed the results of voting in Iowa on Monday, the first 2020 contest as the party seeks a nominee to face the incumbent Republican.

 

Trump presented himself as a big improvement over Democratic President Barack Obama, whom he succeeded three years ago, saying he had bolstered U.S. economic growth and increased jobs.

 

"In just three short years we have shattered the mentality of American decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America's destiny," he said.

 

The House impeachment managers, acting as prosecutors in the Senate impeachment trial, were seated together at the front of the Democrats' section.

 

DEMOCRATIC WOMEN PROTEST

Many House Democratic women wore white for a second year in a row, a sign of the suffrage movement that won women the right to vote 100 years ago. Several Democratic lawmakers refused to attend the annual speech to protest Trump, such as liberal firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

 

Trump, using the speech to lay out his vision for a second four-year term, said a Democratic plan to expand government-funded health insurance amounted to a "socialist takeover" that would bankrupt the country, cut benefits for those who have them now and provide care to illegal immigrants.

 

Democratic presidential candidates and many lawmakers have proposed healthcare plans that would be run by the government, a sharp departure from the current, private system in which millions of Americans receive medical insurance from their employers.

 

Trump's lack of a healthcare plan has left him open to criticism that he has not put enough work into finding a way to reduce rising insurance costs that burden middle-class Americans.

 

"We will never let socialism destroy American healthcare!" Trump said.

 

Democratic women stood and chanted "HR 3" - a reference to a Democratic bill that would lower drug costs.

 

In the televised Democratic response to Trump's speech, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said: "Democrats are trying to make your healthcare better. Republicans in Washington are trying to take it away."

 

Trump offered an upbeat portrayal of his presidency in hopes of persuading Americans to give him another four-year term in the Nov. 3 election.He saluted surprise guest Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition leader, and made cancer-stricken conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh an immediate recipient of the presidential Medal of Freedom, with Trump's wife Melania pinning the ribbon around Limbaugh's neck.

 

Trump also revived his polarizing arguments that migrants should be stopped from crossing the southern U.S. border and that so-called "sanctuary cities" where migrants are protected are wrong. His immigration policies are opposed by Democrats.

 

Pelosi could be seen shaking her head as Trump spoke of his views on immigration.

 

After coming close to a broad conflict with Iran after he ordered the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, Trump said, "We are working to end America's wars in the Middle East."

 

(Additional reporting by David Morgan, Patricia Zengerle and Jeff Mason; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Howard Goller)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-05

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[melvinmelvin]

 

saw that on the news a while ago

 

what can you say? this doesn't assist in improving USA's image

 

rather childish I'd say

 

difficult to maintain even a shred of respect for US politicians

 

---

guess our hero in Montana has the solution, he'd probably just determine that

Pelosi is a socialist and shoot her - end of that problem

 

[Matzzon]

Children at play again. Wonder what happened if you put both people in the same sand box with a plastic shovel. Wait! Never mind, I got it. They would probably try to dig each other down.

[simple1]

Not a good look. On the other side of the coin one would have hoped trump would have ceased his usual lack of courtesy, misinformation and mischaracterisation, plus some outright lies at such an important event as addressing the nation.

[PatOngo]

God Bless America? I don't think he'd be bothered!

[xylophone]

5 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Not a good look. On the other side of the coin one would have hoped trump would have ceased his usual lack of courtesy, misinformation and mischaracterisation, plus some outright lies at such an important event as addressing the nation.

He can't help himself........lies are what he is all about, nothing more, nothing less.

 

A despicable excuse for a human being, yet the Americans elected him as president.

Edited February 5, 2020 by xylophone

[candide]

I think Pelosi initially wanted to tear only the parts with lies in them, but there were too many lies so she chose the most simple solution. ????

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/fact-check-state-of-the-union-02-04

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/state-union-fact-check-what-s-true-what-s-false-n1130311

 

Edited February 5, 2020 by candide

[xylophone]

3 minutes ago, candide said:

I think Pelosi initially wanted to tear only the parts with lies in them, but there were too many lies so she chose the most simple solution. ????

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/fact-check-state-of-the-union-02-04

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/state-union-fact-check-what-s-true-what-s-false-n1130311

 

I bet none/not many of the trumpists on here will have bothered to open this link because they won't like what they see, and want to remain in "cloud cuckoo land" as regards this dumbo and the truth.

[Eric Loh]

That’s how Trump treat women all of his life. 

[metisdead]

A post using an off topic trolling meme has been removed. 

[ExpatOK]

In tearing up the speech, Pelosi demonstrated her hatred for the Tuskegee airman, the girl who got the scholarship, and the boy whose father was killed in action, as well as others.  We now know her true colors, if any of that was ever in doubt.  Pure hatred.

[DrTuner]

I think all that's missing now is "my dad is better than your dad". Children in sandbox. I guess people don't ever really grow up.

[chokrai]

Trump giving Rush the Medal of Honor during the State of the Union was bloody brilliant, like rubbing the Democrats nose in the dog dirt. The guy has balls like a rhino.

[candide]

1 hour ago, ExpatOK said:

In tearing up the speech, Pelosi demonstrated her hatred for the Tuskegee airman, the girl who got the scholarship, and the boy whose father was killed in action, as well as others.  We now know her true colors, if any of that was ever in doubt.  Pure hatred.

Complete B.S..

[Eric Loh]

11 minutes ago, chokrai said:

Trump giving Rush the Medal of Honor during the State of the Union was bloody brilliant, like rubbing the Democrats nose in the dog dirt. The guy has balls like a rhino.

It’s the Presidential Medal of Freedom not honor. The award is the highest civilian award of US and recognized people who who has made meritorious contribution to the security or national interest for US, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. Honestly don’t see his merits and contribution receiving that award. 

[URMySunshine]

4 minutes ago, candide said:

Complete B.S..

+10

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, ExpatOK said:

In tearing up the speech, Pelosi demonstrated her hatred for the Tuskegee airman, the girl who got the scholarship, and the boy whose father was killed in action

Jeez, what a load of cobblers.........No link whatsoever, but just shows the twisted logic of some trumpists.

 

53 minutes ago, chokrai said:

The guy has balls like a rhino.

And a brain about the size of one of them!

[Brigand]

There needs to be Congressional term limits too ... 33 years is way too long. UK has same problem, there needs to be term limits for peers/lords too.

[JHolmesJr]

Trump got into her head for about an hour and 18 minutes and played 4 quarters of high impact

bone crunching football in there.

She was destroyed by the end of it.

He wouldn't shake her hand...wouldnt look back at her....she couldn't do her Nancy clap...he did not give a ^%$^

about her or the rest of her cohorts. Impeachment managers look dazed.

 

What a night....

 

and the winning continues...Biden loses the right to be called Trumps political rival....Buttegeig

surges. An app designed by Hillarys team makes the Dems look incompetent.

 

what a perfect storm

 

Todays acquittal will be like the medal awarding ceremony at the end of a long gruelling fight.

[xylophone]

Absolutely amazing that the office of the President of the United States has been dragged down to a level which nobody could have foreseen a few years ago.

 

Here you have a half-witted, poor excuse for a human being, standing up and giving a state of the nation speech which consisted mostly of lies and half-truths.

 

And more to the point you have his followers actually lauding this. It seems that truth and integrity do not matter these days and rather than setting an example for the rest of the world, this POS just carries on lying, and is applauded for doing so, not only by his fellow Republicans, but followers on this forum.

 

No shame, absolutely no shame and very likely no morals.
 

[URMySunshine]

6 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Absolutely amazing that the office of the President of the United States has been dragged down to a level which nobody could have foreseen a few years ago.

 

Here you have a half-witted, poor excuse for a human being, standing up and giving a state of the nation speech which consisted mostly of lies and half-truths.

 

And more to the point you have his followers actually lauding this. It seems that truth and integrity do not matter these days and rather than setting an example for the rest of the world, this POS just carries on lying, and is applauded for doing so, not only by his fellow Republicans, but followers on this forum.

 

No shame, absolutely no shame and very likely no morals.
 

No likely about it - no morals at all. 

[chokrai]

6 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Absolutely amazing that the office of the President of the United States has been dragged down to a level which nobody could have foreseen a few years ago.

 

Here you have a half-witted, poor excuse for a human being, standing up and giving a state of the nation speech which consisted mostly of lies and half-truths.

 

And more to the point you have his followers actually lauding this. It seems that truth and integrity do not matter these days and rather than setting an example for the rest of the world, this POS just carries on lying, and is applauded for doing so, not only by his fellow Republicans, but followers on this forum.

 

No shame, absolutely no shame and very likely no morals.
 

Yes it was beautiful wasn't it. I am looking forward to the next four. 

[Tug]

21 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

Trump got into her head for about an hour and 18 minutes and played 4 quarters of high impact

bone crunching football in there.

She was destroyed by the end of it.

He wouldn't shake her hand...wouldnt look back at her....she couldn't do her Nancy clap...he did not give a ^%$^

about her or the rest of her cohorts. Impeachment managers look dazed.

 

What a night....

 

and the winning continues...Biden loses the right to be called Trumps political rival....Buttegeig

surges. An app designed by Hillarys team makes the Dems look incompetent.

 

what a perfect storm

 

Todays acquittal will be like the medal awarding ceremony at the end of a long gruelling fight.

So let me see you applaud a guy that breaks his oath of office to protect and uphold the constitution takes credit for others work turns us into a laughingstock lies constantly explodes the deficit during good economic times lots of folks getting conned here that whole state of the Union was a visual ploy to feed his base just rember the dude is a draft dodging bilko artist don’t get conned

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, ExpatOK said:

In tearing up the speech, Pelosi demonstrated her hatred for the Tuskegee airman, the girl who got the scholarship, and the boy whose father was killed in action, as well as others.  We now know her true colors, if any of that was ever in doubt.  Pure hatred.

Such a long bow to draw when you have much clearer examples, closer to home..............

 

trump denigrating a decorated American war hero, directly with words of bitterness. 

 

trump mimicking and denigrating a reporter who had an medical condition.

 

trump and cohorts redirecting funds raised for veterans, for his own use – – and found guilty of this and ordered to repay.

 

And you have the nerve to suggest that Pelosi's tearing up of a speech full of lies was anything close to what I've stated above.

 

Absolute nonsense and typical of a trump mindset; and I'm being kind there suggesting that he actually has a mind which is operative.

[URMySunshine]

21 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Such a long bow to draw when you have much clearer examples, closer to home..............

 

trump denigrating a decorated American war hero, directly with words of bitterness. 

 

trump mimicking and denigrating a reporter who had an medical condition.

 

trump and cohorts redirecting funds raised for veterans, for his own use – – and found guilty of this and ordered to repay.

 

And you have the nerve to suggest that Pelosi's tearing up of a speech full of lies was anything close to what I've stated above.

 

Absolute nonsense and typical of a trump mindset; and I'm being kind there suggesting that he actually has a mind which is operative.

He makes an enemy of everybody in the end. When this 'bubble everything' economy finally pays the price for debauching currency and value then this empty Big Mac scoffing whale will lie beached along with the army of mindless idiots that cheered the naked emperor of vain pomp and no circumstance. The fact that Thailand has a claque of deplorables applauding him at every juncture should come as no surprise to any who know the expat community here. 

Thailand given a free vote would allow much greater mortals access to the reins of power. USA, the land of the free  - votes in this - go figure. 

[JHolmesJr]

44 minutes ago, Tug said:

So let me see you applaud a guy that breaks his oath of office to protect and uphold the constitution takes credit for others work turns us into a laughingstock lies constantly explodes the deficit during good economic times lots of folks getting conned here that whole state of the Union was a visual ploy to feed his base just rember the dude is a draft dodging bilko artist don’t get conned

nobody's listening to your fabricated bias any more. go away.

[RideJocky]

I thought it was a good speech. 
 

Lefty’s follow-up? Weak.

 

[Mansell]

11 minutes ago, RideJocky said:

I thought it was a good speech. 
 

Lefty’s follow-up? Weak.

 

Of course you thought it was good because you believe everything he says when he is just lying on pretty much everything. Pathetic.

[Mansell]

18 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

nobody's listening to your fabricated bias any more. go away.

I am. Why should he go away? Maybe because “You can’t handle the truth.”

[Tug]

16 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

nobody's listening to your fabricated bias any more. go away.

I’m not a mark I see trump for what he is I will never stop defending our American democracy against wanna be dictators