Nancy Pelosi's controversial gesture: he broke Donald Trump's speech in the middle of Congress

02/05/2020 - 1:43

• Clarín.com
• World

The leader of the Democrats in the United States Congress, Nancy Pelosi, broke her copy of President Donald Trump's speech on the State of the Union on Tuesday , in a tough political gesture after hearing the president promote his achievements in office.

The president of the House of Representatives, who was located behind Trump and with Vice President Mike Pence during the ceremony at the Capitol, took the document and shattered it in a very visible way.

Moments before, Trump had had a controversial gesture with her. When he received a copy of the speech, she held out his hand but he denied her greeting , breaking the ceremonial protocol.

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Then, while Trump spoke, the Democratic leader - always sitting quietly behind the president - frowned repeatedly, shook her head and smiled wryly. To finally break his copy of the speech while the Republicans applauded the president standing at the end of his speech.

Nancy Pelosi holds the copy of Trump's speech that he had broken moments before in Congress. (AFP)

When a journalist asked him to explain what he had done, Pelosi said "it was the most courteous, considering the alternative."

Later, on Twitter, the 79-year-old political leader said the Democrats "will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get tasks done."

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 pic.twitter.com/ELJqR9q4xD

Trump was taken to a political trial by the House of Representatives six weeks ago and the episode with Pelosi occurs a day before the Senate surely votes for the president's acquittal on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice.

Speaker Pelosi just ripped up:

One of our last surviving Tuskegee Airmen.

The survival of a child born at 21 weeks.

The mourning families of Rocky Jones and Kayla Mueller.

A service member's meeting with his family.

That's her legacy.

In the middle of the situation due to the impeachment process, Trump, 73, frequently attacked Pelosi, calling her "the crazy Nancy" or "the nervous Nancy" , for example.

The White House responded quickly to Pelosi's gesture on Tuesday, ensuring that he insulted the Americans recognized by Trump's speech, including a veteran aviator, a premature baby and a grieving military family.

Nancy Pelosi keeps the copy of Trump's speech that he had broken moments before in Congress. (EFE)

"That is his legacy," the White House wrote about Twitter on Pelosi.

While Republican Senator Marco Rubio said Pelosi "embarrassed herself" by breaking the speech. "It's so pathetic," he tweeted.

With information from AFP