President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday will also serve as a final curtain call for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), closing out a yearslong rivalry in the House chamber.
Years after tearing up Trump’s 2020 State of the Union speech, Pelosi, 85, is set to retire from Congress in January 2027. Her retirement comes after serving nearly four decades in Congress, and Democrats are looking for a new direction after their 2024 election losses.
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Pelosi, a Democratic powerhouse who was sworn in to Congress in 1987 and served as the first and only female speaker of the House, has had some of her most memorable moments during the presidential tradition.
“She has been the shape or the influence of House Democrats, their chief fundraiser, their chief legislative mastermind,” Democratic operative Jon Reneish told the Washington Examiner. “It’s going to be very interesting to see how she threads the needle in this final State of the Union.”
Several Democrats have announced plans to skip Trump’s address, instead opting to attend counterprogramming or watch the event at home. The Washington Examiner has reached out to Pelosi’s office regarding the former speaker’s plans.
Pelosi and Trump have long had a bitter rivalry, dating back to Trump’s first term. Pelosi staunchly opposed Trump as the nominee during his 2016 campaign. Later, when Democrats regained the gavel in 2019, Pelosi had what was seen as a major political win when the 35-day government shutdown ended after Trump signed a bill without border wall funding — something Pelosi and Democrats fiercely fought against.
The House impeached Trump under Pelosi’s rule in 2019 and 2021 — he was later acquitted in the Senate both times — efforts that the president has slammed as a “witch hunt.”
Beyond her rivalry with Trump, Pelosi played a massive role in the passage of former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, the defining legislation of his presidency. During his 2010 State of the Union, the massive healthcare bill was in jeopardy, as Pelosi enthusiastically encouraged Obama as he talked about healthcare reform.
But as Pelosi prepares to leave the House and cement her legacy, she is also preparing House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) to be the next speaker, Reneish said.
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“In many ways, this is a handoff of the baton to the new guy to ascend to speaker, but it’s also a goodbye lap for her, since she has been such a huge part of the Democratic presence and major on-camera viral moments at States of the Union for many, many years,” the strategist continued.
Here are some of Pelosi’s most memorable moments at State of the Union addresses:
‘Madam Speaker’ in 2007
The California Democrat made history in 2007 as then-President George W. Bush began his address with “Madam Speaker.”
In that moment, Bush acknowledged her historic role as the first female speaker, after the two had worked closely in years prior, but even closer after she became third in line to the presidency.
The 2019 clap
At Trump’s third address, Pelosi stood and made a pointed clap at the president when he called for unity.
The internet and social media took off with clips and memes of her arms stretched out, clapping at him, still used to this day.
Pelosi later told reporters that it was not sarcastic.
“Look at what I was applauding,” Pelosi told reporters at the time. “I wanted him to know that was a very welcome message.”
Tearing up Trump’s 2020 speech
After Trump concluded his 2020 address, Pelosi promptly stood and tore her copy of the speech up, following the president’s refusal to shake her hand.
The gesture came to define Trump’s last address of his first term, becoming another one of Pelosi’s viral moments.
“The manifesto of mistruths presented in page after page of the address tonight should be a call to action for everyone who expects truth from the President and policies worthy of his office and the American people,” Pelosi said in a statement following the 2020 address.
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“The American people expect and deserve a President to have integrity and respect for the aspirations for their children.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Pelosi’s office for comment.