In what was likely her last nationally televised interview before she retires, outgoing former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) admitted that the majority of her famous moments in the lower chamber were never planned.
They were completely “spontaneous” — including the infamous moment she tore up President Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address.
During a conversation with ABC’s Jonathan Karl, Pelosi claimed Sunday that she didn’t intend to tear up President Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address on live television.
However, Pelosi also admitted that she continues to bask in that moment and that it’s one of her “defining” moments of her decades-long career in Congress.
“People like the tearing up of the speech. I didn’t intend to go to the speech to tear it up. I just, the first part of it, I tore a page because he was lying. And then the next page, then the next page. I thought it was a manifesto of lies all throughout, so I better tear up the whole speech. Now, the speeches are on strong paper, so you have to do it a few times to get it done. But I had no intention of doing that. I thought my staff was going to die,” Pelosi said.
Take a listen —
Five years later and Crazy Nancy Pelosi is still bragging about her temper tantrum during President Trump's 2020 State of the Union address.
PELOSI: “The speeches are on strong paper… so you have a do it a few times.”
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 28, 2025
Pelosi also seemingly bragged about an image of her pointing a finger at Trump during a 2019 meeting that included his cabinet, saying she gets more requests to sign that image than anything.
“You know what I’m saying when I go out the door? I’m leaving here because I’ve had it with you, Mr. President. With you, all roads lead to Putin,” she told Karl, who noted that the White House put the picture out and called Pelosi “crazy.”
“They did me a favor,” she added.
To his credit, Karl did press Pelosi to talk more about her career and what she was most proud of from a legislative perspective.
“I’m very proud of the Affordable Care Act. I think it just made a big change in terms of what working families need for their health and their financial health. We will continue to have that fight. It’s not a value that is shared with the Republicans. The healthcare bill was a way of not only meeting health needs but the national needs of families. If I were to be remembered for one thing, it’s the Affordable Care Act,” she said.
Pelosi also heaped praise on current House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), claiming that he is a “unifier” and more than qualified to take over as Speaker and even boldly predicted that Democrats would regain control of the House in 2026.
“So, if the Democrats win the House back —” Karl began, but Pelosi interrupted.
“No, no — when. When the Democrats win the House back, because we will,” Pelosi insisted.
“How does the next Democratic speaker of the House deal with Donald Trump?” Karl asked. “What would be your advice?”
“Be yourself. Just do your own thing, just be yourself,” Pelosi said. “Hakeem Jeffries is ready, he’s eloquent, he’s respected by the members, he is a unifier …”
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi says she thinks the Democrats will re-take the House of Representatives in 2026: “Hakeem Jeffries is ready, he's eloquent, he's respected by the members, he is a unifier.” https://t.co/ZnRxKy0sL5 pic.twitter.com/O6RtIf76eh
— This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 28, 2025
Pelosi announced in November that she would not seek re-election after completing her current term.