Pelosi Rips up Trump’s State of the Union Address: ‘It Was the Courteous Thing to Do’

Amid an ongoing impeachment proceeding, President Donald Trump delivered his 🏛️State of the Union address to a deeply divided Congress.

On Tuesday, Trump entered the room to roaring applause from Republican lawmakers, but the tension between Trump and Democratic lawmakers was palpable.

While Trump never mentioned the impeachment proceeding and instead sought to tout the “great American comeback,” it was clear from the beginning that there was tension between him and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) when he appeared to brush off her attempt to shake hands.

After the speech, which lasted a little more than an hour and a half and included some surprises such as a military family reunion, Pelosi expressed her discontent by ripping up the speech.

Speaking to reporters as she left the House chamber, Pelosi called the speech a “manifesto of mistruths.” She acknowledged that she ripped up the speech, “It was the courteous thing to do.”

She added that she hopes to invite a new president to deliver the next 🏛️State of the Union address.

The move quickly drew outrage from conservatives, but Democrats appeared to approve of the move. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) tweeted, “I would have shredded it.”

In an Instagram video, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (D-N.Y.) — who did not attend the speech — said she approved of Pelosi ripping up the speech, “I’m glad that she expressed her discontent.”

When asked about the move, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) said he was “just glad didn’t hit him with it.”

Meanwhile, Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) suggested that Pelosi auction off the speech for charity, noting that he would auction his Trump-signed tie for charity.

On Wednesday morning, Trump re-tweeted several users who blasted Pelosi for ripping up the speech.