A Purposeful Snub? Trump Appears to Reject Handshake With Pelosi at the State of the Union
President Donald Trump appeared to snub House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) at Tuesday night’s State of the Union address.
Before kicking off his address, Pelosi reached out her hand to Trump but the president didn’t shake her hand.
Unclear whether or not President Trump saw her, but Nancy Pelosi offered him a hand shake and he turned around. pic.twitter.com/LAfOoDik2n
— Liam Martin (@LiamWBZ) February 5, 2020
The Democratic lawmaker posted the image on Twitter late Tuesday, and wrote, “Democrats will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done [for the people].”
She added, “We will work to find common ground where we can, but will stand our ground where we cannot.”
Democrats will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done #ForThePeople. We will work to find common ground where we can, but will stand our ground where we cannot. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/ELJqR9q4xD
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 5, 2020
Many took to Twitter to comment on the moment from the State of the Union.
Did Pres. Trump snub Pelosi's handshake?pic.twitter.com/iBrsct1oHE
— Liz Wheeler (@Liz_Wheeler) February 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/CalebJHull/status/1224880695056662528
Nancy Pelosi went in for the handshake aaaaand….Trump ignored it. pic.twitter.com/c8kFSP3kQr
— Salvador Hernandez (@SalHernandez) February 5, 2020
No handshake? 🤔 #SOTU pic.twitter.com/tjGd1lxiS0
— Christine Pelosi (@sfpelosi) February 5, 2020
Besides no handshake – Pelosi intro of Trump was not typical either. Usually the speaker says – “Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the President of the United States.” Pelosi just said “the President of the United States”
— John Santucci (@Santucci) February 5, 2020
Pelosi also broke congressional tradition during the State of the Union address, as she opted to introduce Trump as just, “Members of Congress, the president of the United States.”
As Business Insider notes, the House speakers typically in the past say it is their “high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States.”
Trump snubs Pelosi in handshake before #StateOfTheUnion – and she is later seen ripping up copy of speech https://t.co/iws4TIOa6l pic.twitter.com/zY6ZSEQh1x
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) February 5, 2020
Another dramatic moment came at the end of Trump’s address when Pelosi ripped up a copy of the address, as IJR reported.
The State of the Union address comes amid congressional impeachment tension, with the Senate expected to vote on Wednesday on two articles of impeachment against Trump.
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