Pelosi tears up Trump’s State of the Union speech
WASHINGTON: As US President Donald Trump was finishing his State of the Union address to Congress, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stood up and ripped up a copy of his speech, in which the president sought to move beyond the impeachment trial and make a case for his re-election.
The speech was a “manifesto of mistruths”, Pelosi told reporters when asked later why she tore it up. She didn’t say more but Trump might have irked her by not obliging when she reached out for a handshake ahead of his speech. Trump then handed her and Vice President Mike Pence, who co-chaired the joint address, folders containing copies of his prepared speech.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States,” she announced, drily, dispensing with the more flowery phrases of the traditional introduction.
The two had exchanged harsh words through tweets and public remarks, specially after Pelosi announced the impeachment inquiry against him in September,
which led to his impeachment in December.
The Trump-Pelosi exchange will remain likely the most enduring impression of the 2020 State of the Union. Touted as “Great American Comeback”, Trump’s speech of over 75 minutes was tailored to highlight the achievements of his administration with an eye on re-election.
One of the longer parts of the speech was devoted to the economy. “I am thrilled to report ... that our economy is the best it has ever been,” he said, and cited job numbers, dipping unemployment among minorities, women and veterans.
He reiterated his intention to reform the immigration system and shift it from family-based to merit-driven. Indians have been beneficiaries of both systems. Trump spoke about his “groundbreaking” peace plan for West Asia and of his intention to “finally” end the war in Afghanistan. Citing the killing of Islamic State founder Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Iran general Qassem Soleimani, he said, “Our message to the terrorists is clear: You will never escape American justice.”