Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rebuked CNN host Jake Tapper for airing a clip of Donald Trump’s critical comments about Vice President Kamala Harris during an interview on Tuesday.

Pelosi expressed her frustration with the focus on Trump’s remarks, calling them an “assault on women” and questioning Tapper’s decision to broadcast the clip during the segment, as Fox News reports.

The exchange took place after Tapper introduced a video of Trump criticizing Harris’s mental fitness. In the clip, Trump stated that Harris had “bigger cognitive problems” than President Joe Biden and claimed that people around the world were laughing at the idea of Harris becoming president. Tapper summarized the comment, leading Pelosi to respond swiftly.

Pelosi immediately questioned why Tapper would even play the clip, describing Trump as “incompetent” and labeling his comments part of a broader attack on women. “Why would you even cover that?” she asked, adding that Trump is “not on the level” to merit such attention. She suggested the focus should be on more substantive issues rather than what she called Trump’s “silliness” and “weirdness.”

Pelosi Questions Trump’s Leadership Record

The lawmaker's frustration extended beyond Trump’s remarks about Harris. She criticized his track record as president, particularly regarding job creation, claiming that Trump had “the worst job creation record of any president since Herbert Hoover.”

Tapper attempted to interject, suggesting that the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the economic decline under Trump’s presidency.

However, Pelosi rejected that defense, blaming Trump’s handling of the pandemic for worsening the crisis. She accused him of responding to COVID-19 with “denial and delay,” which she said resulted in the deaths of “thousands and thousands and thousands of people.”

The conversation grew tense as Tapper defended his decision to air the clip, explaining that Trump, as the Republican nominee for president, remains a central figure in national politics. “Let me just say, why do I run that clip?” Tapper said. “I run that clip because that’s the Republican presidential nominee, and I thought you might have a reaction to it.”

Tension Over Focus on Trump’s Comments

This was not the first time Pelosi expressed frustration with Tapper during an interview. At the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in August, she had similarly pushed back when Tapper asked her about rumored tensions between herself and President Biden.

At that time, Pelosi questioned why they were discussing internal party dynamics, to which Tapper humorously replied, “They put it in my script and made me read it...They’re holding my cat hostage.”

During the latest interview, Pelosi appeared equally irritated by what she perceived as an unnecessary focus on Trump’s rhetoric. While Tapper attempted to justify his decision to include the clip, Pelosi remained resolute in her belief that such comments did not deserve airtime.

Pelosi Blames Trump for COVID-19 Response Failures

Pelosi’s criticism of Trump’s leadership centered heavily on his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to blaming his policies for economic struggles, she argued that his delays in addressing the virus directly contributed to a significant loss of life.

Her remarks on Trump’s pandemic response echoed sentiments shared by many Democratic leaders throughout his presidency. She has long been a vocal critic of Trump’s approach to public health, and Tuesday’s interview provided her with another platform to reiterate her grievances.

Despite Tapper’s attempt to steer the conversation back to the significance of Trump’s position as the GOP nominee, Pelosi remained steadfast in her view that focusing on his personal attacks, particularly those aimed at women like Harris, only distracted from more pressing issues.

Tapper Acknowledges Pelosi’s Concerns

As the interview neared its conclusion, Tapper acknowledged Pelosi’s concerns but stood by his editorial decision. He reiterated that Trump’s role as the Republican nominee justified the inclusion of his remarks, adding that viewers should be informed of the GOP’s messaging, especially during an election year.

Pelosi, however, was not convinced, as she expressed her hope that future discussions would focus on more substantial policy debates rather than what she saw as personal attacks devoid of real merit. The former Speaker’s remarks underscored a broader critique of how the media engages with Trump’s often inflammatory comments.

While the interview ended on a somewhat lighthearted note, with Tapper referencing his earlier joke about his “cat being held hostage,” the underlying tension between Pelosi’s frustrations and Tapper’s defense of his role as a journalist remained evident.

The discussion served as a reminder of the delicate balance between media coverage and the political figures on whom they report, especially in a highly polarized election season.