BREAKING: Barack Obama Gives Powerful Farewell to Nancy Pelosi After Retirement Announcement: “She Made Us Proud to Be Democrats”
Washington, D.C. — November 11, 2025 — Former President Barack Obama led a chorus of tributes Tuesday to Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi following her announcement that she will not seek reelection, ending a historic 37-year congressional career that made her the first woman to wield the gavel as Speaker of the House.
In a heartfelt post on X, Obama hailed Pelosi’s legislative mastery and personal loyalty, crediting her pivotal role in passing the Affordable Care Act during his administration.
“For almost four decades, Nancy Pelosi has served the American people and worked to make our country better. No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed — and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act,” Obama wrote.
He continued: “She made us proud to be Democrats, and will go down in history as one of the best speakers the House of Representatives has ever had. Nancy, thank you for your leadership and your friendship. Michelle and I wish you and Paul the best in this next chapter.”
Pelosi, 85, revealed her decision in a polished video address released Tuesday morning from her San Francisco district. Flanked by the Golden Gate Bridge, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the city she has called home since 1987.
“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress. With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi said.
She closed with a rallying cry to her constituents: “As we go forward, my message to the city I love is this: San Francisco, know your power. We have made history, we have made progress, we have always led the way.”
The announcement caps a tenure defined by landmark achievements and fierce partisan battles. Pelosi twice served as Speaker — from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2019 to 2023 — steering passage of the Affordable Care Act, two impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump, and the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Democratic leaders moved swiftly to honor her legacy. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Pelosi “the most consequential Speaker of the modern era,” while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer praised her “unmatched ability to count votes and deliver results.”
Republicans offered a more divided response. Former President Trump, never one to mute his criticism, posted a scathing rebuke on Truth Social, labeling Pelosi “evil,” “corrupt,” and “only focused on bad things for our country.”
The attack echoed Trump’s long-standing feud with the California lawmaker, who famously tore up his State of the Union address on live television in 2020 and led the House investigations that twice impeached him.
Political analysts say Pelosi’s retirement creates a void in Democratic leadership at a moment when the party is regrouping after mixed midterm results and preparing for the 2026 cycle. Her San Francisco seat, one of the safest Democratic districts in the nation, is expected to remain blue, though a competitive primary is likely.
Born in Baltimore to a political family — her father, Thomas D’Alesandro Jr., served as mayor — Pelosi entered Congress in a 1987 special election. She rose through the ranks, becoming the first female party leader in 2002 and shattering the marble ceiling five years later when she assumed the speakership.
Her legislative scorecard is staggering: the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the Dodd-Frank financial reform package, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act all bear her imprint. Critics, however, point to gridlock during her later years and accuse her of prioritizing partisan wins over bipartisan compromise.
As tributes poured in across social media, one viral clip from 2019 resurfaced: Pelosi, clad in a fiery red coat, staring down Trump at the State of the Union podium. The image became a symbol of Democratic resistance.
In San Francisco, local leaders vowed to carry forward her progressive mantle. Mayor London Breed called Pelosi “the North Star of our city’s values,” while California Governor Gavin Newsom said she “taught a generation how to fight and how to win.”
Pelosi’s final year in office will coincide with a lame-duck session and the early jockeying of the 2026 midterms. She has signaled intent to remain active on issues like women’s reproductive rights, climate action, and protecting Social Security.
Historians are already debating her place in the pantheon. Comparisons to Speakers Sam Rayburn and Tip O’Neill abound, but her gender breakthrough and sheer legislative output set her apart.
For now, the woman who once declared “I don’t do fear” is stepping away on her own terms. As Obama’s tribute suggests, the party she helped shape will feel her absence keenly.
