‘Disgraceful’: Steve Scalise Slams Pelosi for Ripping Up Trump’s Speech

House Republican Whip Steve Scalise blasted Speaker Nancy Pelosi for ripping up President Trump’s speech after his address was over on Tuesday night, calling her actions “disgraceful.”

“I thought it was disgraceful. It’s unbecoming of a speaker,” Scalise told CBS News chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett in an interview for “The Takeout” podcast. “Frankly, Speaker Pelosi should apologize as well, because it’s not the image she should want to portray as the speaker of the House.”

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Did Pelosi’s Stunt Disrespect the President’s Guests?

When Garrett mentioned to Scalise that Pelosi said she was justified in ripping the speech because she believed it was a “manifesto of mistruths,” Scalise wondered if her stunt actually represented Democrats disrespecting White House guests present at the speech, including a former Tuskegee airman and a soldier who was reunited with his family.

“I think she at a minimum owes a deep apology to the president and the country,” Scalise said.

Scalise said he believes Trump will be reelected by a wide margin in the Electoral College, and that the President could also win the popular vote in 2020, after losing that vote by 3 million votes in 2016.

Scalise Says Trump Will be Re-Elected

“The popular vote’s a different situation, but look, it’s possible,” Scalise said, before downplaying the importance of the popular vote. “Ultimately, it’s like the Super Bowl. You don’t get the trophy for getting more yards than the other team. You get the trophy for getting more points.”

Scalise also voiced his dissatisfaction with Republican senators Lisa Murkowski and Lamar Alexander who voted to acquit President Trump during his impeachment trial, but also believed the president’s behavior had been “inappropriate.” Scalise insisted that Mr. Trump had done nothing inappropriate or wrong when he asked Ukraine’s president to investigate a political rival.

“The president’s done his job,” Scalise said.

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On Wednesday, Scalise tweeted in support of Republican Congresswoamn Kay Granger’s resolution to condemn Pelosi’s actions.

“Ripping up the President’s official State of the Union speech with the nation watching is beneath the dignity of the House of Representatives,” Scalise tweeted. “JUST NOW → @RepKayGranger introduced a resolution to condemn Nancy Pelosi’s disgraceful behavior.”

“She must be held accountable,” he added.

is a professional writer and editor with over 15 years of experience in conservative media and Republican politics. He... More about John Hanson

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