Former President Donald Trump finally weighed in on the stunning attack of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, calling the attack a “terrible thing.”
“With Paul Pelosi, that’s a terrible thing, with all of them it’s a terrible thing,” Donald said in an interview with Americano Media. “Look at what’s happened to San Francisco generally. Look at what’s happening in Chicago.”
Trump said the rampant crime that commentators are attributing to the Pelosi break-in and assault was a result of “Defund the Police” rhetoric.
“It was far worse than Afghanistan,” Trump claimed. “We have to give the police back their dignity, their respect. They can solve the problem. But today if a police officer says something that’s slightly out of line it’s like the end of his life, the end of his pension, the end of his family.”
“We can’t do that. We have to give the police back their authority and their power and their respect,” he said. “Because this country is out of control.”
In a statement late Monday, Speaker Pelosi said her family was “most grateful” for “thousands of messages conveying concern, prayers and warm wishes.” Her husband underwent surgery for a fractured skull and other injuries after the attack. She said he was making “steady progress on what will be a long recovery process.”
According to authorities, David DePape, the man accused of attacking Paul Pelosi with a hammer, told police he wanted to hold the Democratic leader hostage and “break her kneecaps” to show other members of Congress there were “consequences to actions,” authorities said Monday.
Officials say DePape, 42, carrying zip ties, tape, and a rope in a backpack, broke into the couple’s San Francisco home early Friday morning, went upstairs where 82-year-old Paul Pelosi was sleeping, and demanded to talk to “Nancy.”
Police said that Paul was able to convince DePape to let him use the restroom, where he was able to get his cell phone and called 911. DePape fought with Paul and struck him with the hammer when police responded, authorities said.
DePape was considered mentally unstable for years by those around him. The media was quick to declare the attack as an example of homegrown domestic terrorism.
Conservatives counter that DePaper clearly suffered a psychotic break before the attack, and was an illegal immigrant that should have been deported long ago.
The Horn editorial team and the Associated Press contributed to this article