BREAKING: Trump Hails Pelosi’s Retirement as ‘Great Thing for America,’ Brands Ex-Speaker ‘Evil’ and ‘Corrupt’ in Fiery Fox News Exchange
Washington, D.C. — In a blistering reaction that reignited one of American politics’ most enduring feuds, President Donald Trump on Thursday declared former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s retirement announcement a “great thing for America,” labeling the longtime Democratic powerhouse “evil,” “corrupt,” and “highly overrated.” The comments, delivered via text message to Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy and read live on air, capped a morning of seismic shifts in Washington as Pelosi, 85, bowed out after nearly four decades in Congress.
Pelosi’s decision, revealed in a somber video message to supporters shortly before 10 a.m. ET, marks the end of an era for the Democratic Party and the woman who shattered glass ceilings while wielding the gavel as the first female Speaker of the House. “I want you, my fellow San Franciscans, to be the first to know I will not be seeking re-election to Congress,” Pelosi said in the clip, her voice steady but tinged with reflection. She pledged to serve out her current term through 2027 but cited a desire to pass the torch amid California’s recent vote on redrawing congressional maps—a ballot measure that had fueled weeks of retirement speculation.
The announcement rippled across Capitol Hill, where Pelosi’s shadow looms large. Elected in a 1987 special election to succeed the late Rep. Sala Burton, she ascended from party whip to Speaker in 2007, steering landmark legislation like the Affordable Care Act through a divided House. Her tenure included two historic impeachments of Trump—in 2019 over Ukraine aid and in 2021 following the January 6 Capitol riot—efforts that passed the House but faltered in a Republican-led Senate. Yet Pelosi’s legacy is as polarizing as it is pioneering: hailed by allies as a strategic mastermind who outmaneuvered GOP hardliners, derided by critics as a symbol of entrenched Washington elitism.
Trump’s response, relayed exclusively to Doocy during a segment on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom, was unfiltered Trump—gleeful, combative, and laced with personal barbs. “The retirement of Nancy Pelosi is a great thing for America. She was evil, corrupt, and rapidly losing control of her party and it was never coming back,” the president texted, according to Doocy, who read the message verbatim on air. “I’m very honored she impeached me twice and failed miserably twice. Nancy Pelosi is a highly overrated politician.”
Doocy, Fox’s White House correspondent known for his pointed questioning of both parties, had teed up the exchange by noting the duo’s “tangled” history. “These two have tangled a bit in the past, Peter,” co-host Bill Hemmer quipped, prompting Doocy’s reveal. The moment quickly went viral, amassing over 500,000 views on X within hours, with reactions splitting sharply along partisan lines. Trump supporters flooded social media with memes of Pelosi’s infamous 2020 State of the Union speech-tearing, while Democrats decried the rhetoric as unbecoming of the presidency.
The barbs underscore a rivalry that defined much of the past decade. Trump’s first impeachment, led by Pelosi, stemmed from his July 2019 call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where he pressed for dirt on political rival Joe Biden. The second, post-January 6, accused him of inciting insurrection. Pelosi, ever the tactician, orchestrated both with surgical precision, even as Trump dismissed them as “witch hunts.” In retaliation, Trump has long mocked her as “Nervous Nancy,” accusing her of insider trading—a claim echoed in recent GOP probes into congressional stock trades—and presiding over a “do-nothing” Democratic caucus.
Pelosi’s camp offered no immediate rebuttal to Trump’s salvo, but allies rallied swiftly. On ABC’s The View, co-host Joy Behar lauded Pelosi as Trump’s “chief tormenter,” crediting her for moments like the speech-ripping that “showed how threatened he was by her.” Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Trump White House aide turned co-host, admitted, “I admire the hell out of her,” despite policy clashes, praising Pelosi’s timing in an era of generational Democratic churn. Sunny Hostin, another panelist, hailed her “awareness” of political rhythms.
The retirement vaults California’s 11th Congressional District—a deep-blue stronghold encompassing San Francisco—into a high-stakes scrum. Potential successors include Pelosi’s daughter, attorney Christine Pelosi; state Sen. Scott Wiener, a progressive on LGBTQ+ issues; and Saikat Chakrabarti, ex-chief of staff to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and co-founder of the progressive Justice Democrats. The race could test the party’s left flank against its establishment wing, especially as Democrats grapple with midterm losses and a resurgent Trump agenda.
Broader implications loom for a polarized Congress. Pelosi’s exit, alongside whispers of retirements from Sens. Dianne Feinstein’s successors and other aging titans, signals a leadership vacuum. Republicans, fresh off House gains, see it as vindication; Trump himself touted it on Truth Social as proof of “Crooked Nancy’s” waning grip. Yet Democrats counter that her departure frees resources for 2026 battles, with Pelosi vowing to “remain a voice” through advocacy.
As the dust settles, Trump’s parting shot serves as a reminder: In Washington, retirements aren’t farewells—they’re fresh ammunition. Pelosi’s video closed with a nod to perseverance: “We must never, ever give up.” Whether her influence endures beyond the Capitol’s marble halls remains the next chapter in this epic partisan saga.
