Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi drew fresh scrutiny Friday after she was seen slurring her words during an address at the Voters of the Future summit in Washington, D.C., reigniting long-standing questions about her fitness for office.
Was Pelosi drunk in public?
The 85-year-old Democratic leader went viral after footage showed her struggling with her words, prompting critics to speculate she was “plastered” at the youth voting event.
Pelosi’s office has repeatedly denied the allegations that she’s drunk in public, and stated she doesn’t drink at all.
However, this isn’t the first time Pelosi has been accused of being drunk in public. For years, critics have claimed Pelosi has a drinking problem.
In October 2021, viral footage showed Pelosi slurring her words at a press conference, putting her mask on upside-down, and appearing confused.
During that 2021 incident, Pelosi was heard saying: “An… and that’s-s why I said that. Yeah. Y-ya got it? Thank you all very much. It’s going to be an ebentful day, perhaps I’ll see you along the w…” before stopping mid-sentence and exclaiming “Hi!” to someone off-camera.
More recently, critics questioned Pelosi’s condition in a video announcing her return to Washington following hip replacement surgery in Germany. The video, recorded aboard a private jet, left social media users questioned whether Pelosi had been drinking before recording that video.
“How many drinks did she have before recording this video?” one user asked.
Take a look at the latest incident for yourself —
BREAKING: Nancy Pelosi is PLASTERED at this summit she's speaking at.
This is the leader of the Democrat Party LOL
No wonder they've tried to hide her! pic.twitter.com/tYBFOyALjG
— Gunther Eagleman™ (@GuntherEagleman) July 25, 2025
The controversy occurred during a summit designed to engage young voters, held as the Democratic Party’s aging leadership struggles to connect with the next generation. RNC Youth Advisory Council chair Brilyn Hollyhand, 18, told Fox News that Democratic leaders like Pelosi are failing to inspire younger Americans.
“None of those people are inspiring Gen Z. None of those people are bringing more voters into the party,” Hollyhand said.
In recent years, Republicans make significant gains with young voters. Data from the Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement at Tufts University shows approximately 56 percent of young men voted for President Trump in November, while young women moved from 33 percent support in 2020 to 40 percent in 2024.
Darryl Paulson, professor emeritus of government at the University of South Florida, told Fox News that Republicans are well-positioned among young voters.
“If they continue that support and even expand the support, Republicans will be in good shape,” Paulson said.
Pelosi has served San Francisco in Congress since 1987 and was recently re-elected in California’s 11th district. She previously underwent hip replacement surgery in Germany after falling down marble stairs during a Battle of the Bulge commemoration in December.