In her new book, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sheds light on her decision to tear up President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in 2020, a moment that garnered significant public attention.

Pelosi reveals her deep frustration and disgust with Trump's numerous lies as the impetus behind this symbolic yet destructive act during the annual speech, as the Washington Examiner reports.

Pelosi Says Act Was Response to Lies

In her book, The Art of Power, Pelosi discusses the incident that occurred during Trump's address to Congress in 2020. At the time, she was the Speaker of the House and the leading Democrat in the lower chamber.

During Trump's speech, Pelosi tore her copy while he was acknowledging applause from the podium. This act was meant to convey her profound disdain for what she described as the falsehoods contained in his address. Initially, Pelosi intended to mark each page of the speech that contained a lie with a small tear. However, as the speech progressed, her plan evolved.

Pelosi: Speech Riddled with Falsehoods

Pelosi explained, "It was not just one, two, three, or four pages with lies,” highlighting her mounting frustration. As she continued listening, she found entire sections of the speech were misleading.

“It was pages and pages of them," she remarked, feeling overwhelmed by the quantity of false information. By the end of the speech, she decided to tear the entire document. "Disgusted with what I heard, I ripped the pages from end to end,” Pelosi continued.

The iconic image of Pelosi tearing the speech was circulated widely, capturing a moment that symbolized the fraught relationship between the speaker and the president.

A Contentious Relationship with Trump

The animosity between Pelosi and Trump was not new. Throughout his presidency, she was a vocal opponent, often clashing with him over issues like government funding and border security.

In September 2019, Pelosi began an impeachment inquiry into Trump. She alleged he abused his power to bolster his reelection campaign by seeking foreign assistance. Trump's response came in December 2019, where he dismissed the impeachment as a “fantasy” and an “illegal, partisan, attempted coup.” In a heated letter to Pelosi, Trump laid bare his grievances.

Trump's Reaction to the Impeachment Inquiry

In his letter, Trump accused Pelosi and her party of interfering in elections. “You are the ones subverting America’s Democracy,” he wrote, further intensifying their public feud.

Trump went on to accuse the Democrats of bringing unnecessary "pain and suffering" to the country. He described their actions as being driven by selfish political motives. Just two months after receiving this inflammatory letter, Pelosi's frustrations culminated in the public shredding of the State of the Union speech.

Pelosi's Final Reflection

Reflecting on her interactions with Trump, Pelosi observed, "I’ve had a lot of conversations with this man. At the end of nearly all of them, I think, ‘Either you are stupid, or you think that the rest of us are.’”

This statement from her book encapsulates the disdain she felt towards Trump. It also sheds light on the broader context of their contentious relationship.

The public act of shredding the speech was a significant moment in U.S. political history. It symbolized the intense partisan divisions that marked the Trump presidency.

A Symbolic Gesture Amid Political Turmoil

Pelosi’s decision to forsake her initial plan of marking individual lies in favor of tearing the entire speech was a symbolic gesture. It reflected her broader critique of Trump's presidency and his approach to governance.

The act was seen by supporters as a brave stand against falsehoods but criticized by opponents as disrespectful. Regardless of perspective, it remains a pivotal moment that captures the era’s political climate.

In The Art of Power, Pelosi provides an insider perspective on this and other critical moments during her tenure as Speaker. Her detailed account offers readers a deeper understanding of the motivations behind her actions.

Impeachment and Public Displays of Discontent

Pelosi’s role in initiating the impeachment inquiry against Trump was another significant chapter in their contentious relationship.

Her public displays of discontent, like the shredding of the speech, were indicative of the broader struggles and conflicts that characterized her leadership during the Trump administration.

The culmination of these events highlights the deep-seated divisions within American politics. It underscores the challenges faced by leaders striving to navigate through intensely partisan environments.