Nancy Pelosi’s biggest power move was denying Donald Trump an audience

Pelosi Weekly Press Conference

On Wednesday, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi pulled yet another power move on the orange clown. She publicly released the letter she sent to the White House, telling the Diaper Clown that he wasn’t welcome to a joint session of Congress to perform the State of the Union. Technically, the Speaker has to invite the president to speak for the SOTU. And technically, Pelosi argued, there would not be enough security what with the government shutdown.

Pelosi’s statement is both boringly reasonable and hilarious. She’s right about the security concerns, but let’s be real: she’s denying him an audience, and she’s denying him the attention he craves. Pelosi was justifiably concerned that Trump would deliver a SOTU in the midst of the longest government shutdown in history and he would lie and say it was the Democrats’ fault. Plus, she hilariously challenges him TO READ HIS SPEECH somewhere else, when we all know one of his biggest fears is reading. Nancy Pelosi is so ballsy.

U.S. WASHINGTON D.C. TRUMP DEPARTURE BORDER WALL

Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.

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104 Responses to “Nancy Pelosi’s biggest power move was denying Donald Trump an audience”

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  1. Jem says:

    I want to frame this letter and hang it up in my house. It’s just so hilarious and perfect. I love how much she hates him! She’s my hero.

  2. Diana says:

    She is a badass! Love her

  3. Tiffany says:

    I have already thought about who is going to play Speaker Pelosi in the movie you know is coming.

    Christine Baranski.

  4. Alisha says:

    Hahahaha! I bet he throws a tantrum.

  5. Lightpurple says:

    And the boys still don’t get that they LOST and she’s in charge. Some of them are saying that they’ll invite him to the Senate, a much smaller hall, but the rules are, based on separation of powers, that BOTH houses must extend a joint invitation for a President to set foot in the Capitol building. So, McConnell can’t invite him to the Senate floor. Scalise, who doesn’t seem to understand that a woman controls his work schedule now, says he’ll invite him to another part of the building but he has no authority to invite anyone.

    • minx says:

      Yes. I also wasn’t sure of the protocol, but my husband said the Speaker must issue the invitation. So 🖕

    • Canber says:

      I would love the scenario where on the 29th, Trump is trying to crash a party and the sargeant at arms takes him out.

      • Lightpurple says:

        He wouldn’t get past the Capitol Police at the entrance

      • Va Va Kaboom says:

        It’s a lovely fantasy, but Pelosi and the Democrats should be praying to every higher power they can think of that Trump doesn’t decide to push the issue by just showing up. I guarantee you if he did so every single network and cable news show would not only follow, but they’d cut into all regularly scheduled programming to do so. Remember that they aired 30 minutes of candidate Trump’s empty podium, what do you think the response will be to a truly historic showdown between the President and the Speaker of the House? It will be wall-to-wall coverage during prime time which is exactly what Trump salivates for.

        As for the Capital Police, IF they actually stop Trump (which I wouldn’t be confident on) can you imagine how physically barring POTUS from speaking will play out? There’s a good chance she and the Democrats will come off as petty and far worse for their efforts. Especially after the dubious excuse of “security concerns” has been debunked by the Secret Service. They’ve gone on record to say they’re already successfully planning for the SOTU before Pelosi rescinded the invitation. It’s a good move at the moment, but we unfortunately aren’t living in Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing… it could go very very wrong if Trump calls her on it.

      • Cranberry says:

        @VA Va Kaboom

        Well even if The Dump were to be that rash and just show up on 29th, I’m thinking Pelosi would allow him entrance but not any camera crews. So it would be a wasted effort for DD if no TV audience. It would also be very obvious he is pulling a diva stunt. So again it will actually reflect badly back on to DD especially since everyone is getting real tired of stunt governance which is his MO and not Pelsoi’s.

  6. BendyWindy says:

    I have to admit, she made it sound good…very plausible, but daaaaamn. I can’t believe the Speaker isn’t inviting the President. Has that ever happened before?

  7. elimaeby says:

    I’m hungover af and having a crappy day (my future father-in-law is in the ICU), and this made my morning so much better. I’m too hungover and tired to be clever, so may I just say: QWEEN!!!

    • Lightpurple says:

      Hoping things improve for your future father in law.

      • elimaeby says:

        Thank you, Lightpurple. He was admitted last night and treated for a severe cardiac arrhythmia. He’s on the upswing, but we’re just hoping he gets moved to a room for general observation so we can all take a deep breath.

        I swear, people on this site are the most supportive community I’ve ever found online. And the fact that we love to gossip and s&^%talk celebs doesn’t hurt 😉

    • Kitten says:

      Kitten’s Hangover Cures (in no particular order):

      LOTS of H2O
      Ibuprofen
      Weed
      Sex

      If still hungover, more weed and sex. It’s all science, baby.

      Hope you feel better soon, friend.

    • jan90067 says:

      elimaeby, sending best wishes for your future FIL’s recovery! Hope he’s moved out of ICU soon! Hugs to you!

  8. Rhys says:

    I bet Trump didn’t even know the procedure and though that he can give they address whenever he deigns to.

  9. Valiantly Varnished says:

    You know I was a bit reticent about Pelosi becoming Speaker again – not dor any otjer reason than I think that the Dem party is in desperate need of fresh leadership. But she is reminding me why I’ve been a fan (minus her All Lives matter bs). Because she is a gangster. Plain and simple. She’s been in the game a long time. And unlike Trump she actually UNDERSTANDS the game. She is smarter than him and she is the embodiment of one of the things Trump fears most (besides black women) – a woman who is not afraid of him and and can out maneuver him.

    • Sadezilla says:

      Yes, I love that Nancy Pelosi is showing the doubters why she is the Speaker: she knows how to get things done. I am all for new blood and moving the platform to a more progressive place, but leadership also requires experience and know-how, and Pelosi has it.

      Bonus: No House Democrats accepted Bigly’s invitation to lunch. Why? Because Madam Speaker knows how to whip a caucus. Meanwhile, Senate Republicans are defecting from McConnell’s refusal to vote in the Senate to reopen the government.

      • molly says:

        Yes. I’m all for freshness once we’re past this national crisis, but for now, there’s no one I’d rather have holding the gavel than Pelosi.

    • lucy2 says:

      I agree, I too would like to see some new leadership emerge, but we NEED Nancy and her experience and expertise now. For all the fuss a few weeks ago, I think more and more people are seeing that now, especially with moves like this letter.

    • Ponchorella says:

      I wasn’t exactly thrilled about her becoming speaker either. Partly because she has been such a target of the right, and mostly because I wanted someone fresh. Damn, was I wrong! She is killing it, and now I can see exactly why she was such a target. Because she is so fucking effective. Her expertise (in government as well as toddler care) is so necessary right now, and I regret that I doubted her.

  10. HK9 says:

    I LOVE it!!

  11. Incredulous says:

    It also leaves the door open for Donald to say the words “State of the union” and go off-script immediately.

  12. OPP says:

    I love that she invoked RULES of the constitution to keep this maggot in his place.

  13. Original Jenns says:

    The cherry on top – it’s a woman doing this. THIS is what makes it the worst for Trump and his cronies.

    • Lightpurple says:

      And not just to Trump. She’s going to take Steve Scalise down. How dare he say he’ll find another room in her building?

      • Sadezilla says:

        These boners don’t know who they’re dealing with. Madam Pelosi is not spineless like the former failed Speaker, Paul “Just Stop Being Poor” Ryan.

      • Esmom says:

        Scalise’s ignorance seems unfortunately all too common among the GOP, many of whom were elected in a wave of Tea Party sentiment that was about an inch deep, substance-wise. And don’t even get me started on William Barr claiming he knows noting about the emoluments clause.

        This is how we ended up with Trump, by slowly becoming more comfortable with “leaders” who don’t know much. Grr. I digressed, sorry.

      • Sadezilla says:

        Did y’all see what just happened on the House floor? Scalise didn’t request a recorded vote on the CR passage (see above re: not knowing what he’s doing, though he claimed the Chair didn’t recognize their request for a recorded vote) so the CR passed in the House.

  14. OriginalLala says:

    Bahahaha amazing! and you just know he is fuming over a WOMAN denying him this! Go Nancy!!

  15. Marjorie says:

    She is in the process of cutting off his head and he doesn’t even know she has a knife, to paraphrase her daughter.

    • Lightpurple says:

      He’s too busy throwing insults at Schumer because the idea that a woman could control him is beyond his thought capacity. Meanwhile, she’s readying her gavel to bounce off his head should he dare set foot in her space.

      Also, McConnell, Ayanna Pressley, WILL find your hideout.

  16. adastraperaspera says:

    Glad to see President Pelosi fighting the good fight! We have to get the government open asap!

  17. Lama Bean says:

    I think having a woman (particularly Nancy) as speaker is exactly what is needed to break down the man-baby. I’m not a mother, but I can see she is treating him like a toddler throwing a tantrum. He’s mad that mom (Nancy) won’t let him get the Frosted Flakes, so he threw a tantrum at the grocery. The shutdown is him destroying the aisle by knocking down all the cereal boxes off the shelf.

    Now Nancy is punishing him. She took away his TV time. I love it.
    I don’t know that another man would have been a match for Yeti.

  18. Lisa says:

    Nancy is just running circles around him.

  19. CA Family Code says:

    If only this WOULD shut him up. It won’t. AND he’s vindictive so we will see a nasty reply which will be a typical tantrum. This is not funny at all.

  20. JanetFerber says:

    It’s funny that ball-less McConnell is coming out of his hiding place to suck up to Trump. Where the hell has he been in re-starting the government? F him. The men can’t or won’t be men, so step aside and let the woman take charge. You want courage, guts, smarts and action? Nancy Pelosi will deliver. Recently I got the “Nancy Pelosi bob” at my salon (I just made up the name and showed the stylist Pelosi’s iconic pic with the red coat and shades). I am rocking her style and good for her for rocking the White House.

    • CA Family Code says:

      Well, the woman HAS taken charge (so to speak) Speaker of the house Pelosi outranks both the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader in the 116th Congress (McConnell and Schumer respectively). Unfortunately, Cheeto is the one person in the country who can sign something into law.

  21. Fig says:

    I’m a govt employee and have been to work every day without pay. I’m sorry but I do not celebrate Pelosi’s actions. Politicians, both parties, are supposed to be intelligent adults and let’s be honest they haven’t been able to pass a budget timely for years now. They can’t even sit in a room and negotiate.

    Americans are used to this behavior and we are not asking for real changes which includes new appointments, new vision, new mindsets, big change.

    Tax payers are slaves to this BS and now govt workers are literally paying the price of marginal represention at the highest levels of government. Yes, Trump sucks but that’s not the only problem.

    Pelosi’s letter won’t get the govt back open. But ok, she’s sassy.

    Sorry friends, Im a little stressed y’all and the public needs more than small gestures and word play.

    • CA Family Code says:

      AGREED. Not funny or cute at all.

    • Rapunzel says:

      Fig– nope nope nope. They all agreed on a budget. Trump backed out of signing it because Ann Coulter baited him into it. The Congress has bills they could still vote on and pass but McConnell won’t allow a vote because he’s a Trump sycophant. It ain’t Pelosi and the Democrats screwing over the people . They’ve got a bipartisan agreement. It’s Trump and McConnell holding it all up. Like babies.

      And Pelosi disinviting Trump is the right move. Why should he be allowed to go on TV about the SOTU when the Government is shut down? We know the SOTU: it’s shutdown.

      • Tiffany :) says:

        ^^^THIS.

        There is a MAJORITY agreement in congress, it’s just that McConnell won’t allow it to go through because he is trying to save face for the president.

      • BeanieBean says:

        Completely agree, Rapunzel. And I’m a currently furloughed fed.

      • Kitten says:

        This times a million. OP tried to “both sides” this mess. Nope. Trump and McConnell OWN this, straight-up.

        I feel awful for every Federal employee who is dipping into retirement savings (if they’re lucky enough to have some) to get through a completely unnecessary shutdown that is happening because of a fabricated “crisis” but please don’t try to blame this on the Dems. They had a deal. The GOP said no and lost all leverage. Before Dems won the House, they were fully on-board and now suddenly they won’t cooperate. It’s transparent AF. Don’t let yourself get played. Don’t allow this clown to clown you.

    • CA Family Code says:

      I think she handed Dump a gift with that letter. He would rather blow his noise at a press conference and all over Twitter than in the House of Representatives where dems are the majority

    • Sadezilla says:

      What Rapunzel said. Tr*mp is having a tantrum because a precious Faux pundit was mean to him on telly, so he’s attempting to hold Congress hostage. If they give in, he will pull this every time he doesn’t get his way. You can’t negotiate with someone pulling terrorist tactics.

      The shutdown is all Tr and McConnell.

    • IlsaLund says:

      As a retired federal employee who has lived through many shutdowns, the impact on employees, families and the economy cannot be understated. It’s actually ridiculous that the U.S. Government can’t get its sh!t together and pass funding budgets in a timely manner. Politics really will be the demise of this country. Republicans controlled all three branches of government and agency funding bills should have been passed months ago on their watch. Democrats have only been in control of one branch of government since January began, so I don’t think it’s fair to blame them for this mess. It’s beyond ridiculous and unfair to demand and expect anyone to report to duty and work without pay. Congress wouldn’t do it, so why should federal workers. I just wish the American people would wake up from their slumber and take back the power from these inept politicians who are solely beholding to big business and the 1%. I wish federal employees would stage a sickout, if not for a day, at least a few hours….bring everything to a standstill….no customs, no air travel, etc. Send a strong message to these inept clowns that the people hold the power and if they don’t get their act together, then the people will have their say. It’s time the people grew a backbone and stopped being so scared of protesting and start demanding government work for them…..not against them.

      • CA Family Code says:

        Ironically, this is over the border wall, yet there have already been 50K immigration court hearings cancelled and by next month if still shut down it will be 100k. Immigrants can remain living in the United States until their court date, a practice colloquially known as “catch and release,” which Trump has criticized in the past. As a result of the shutdown, those who would have been deported after their hearing will stay in the country even longer while they await their new court date. Which are now being continued to 2020,,,in other words, those about to be deported are cheering the shutdown

      • BeanieBean says:

        Well said.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      My heart goes out to you and your family. I am sure this is a stressful time for you, and it is such an unnecessary burden. It’s completely unjust to force people to work without pay.

      Pelosi is using the power she has to try and get the gov’t reopened. This is one of the few forms of consequence that she has at her disposal. Yes, a “sassy” letter isn’t much, but she doesn’t have the power to bring a vote in the Senate. That is McConnell’s job, and he’s MIA.

      “Yes, Trump sucks but that’s not the only problem.”

      No, Trump IS the problem. Trump is the only person demanding billions in funding for a wall without any kind of give in return. The dems have already passed bi-partisan legislation that would provide $1.3B for fencing, $367M for security technology, $7.7M for more customs and border protection employees, $225M for inspection equipment at ports of entry and $7.08 Billion for ICE. So they are willing to support the cause he claims to champion. He’s grandstanding for show, not because he has any legitimate complaints.

      • Kitten says:

        Well said, Tiffany.

      • goofpuff says:

        I agree that Trump is 90% the problem. The other 10% are the Republicans that will not stand up to him and ignore the rest of their constituents and only listen to his rabid base. Moderate Republicans who believe in bipartisanship are abandoning the party. I’ve heard so much talk about how the Republican party no longer supports their values anymore and only listens to the far right.

        I’m a furloughed worker and although this is horrible for us, it is even worse that Trump is calling in unessential workers and forcing them to work without pay for his own political gain. That shows me right there that he is an evil man and it boggles my mind when other people do not see it. I don’t care what they say – all of us government workers know what essential means and its not what this mf-ing a-hole is saying.

        At this point, I’m ready to see it to the end. We cannot let this bully in unless we want him to pull this stunt every time he tantrums. No. We need to be the parent and stand up to this toddler who refuses to negotiate.

  22. Lindy says:

    Pelosi in the past has been too beholden to big finance among other things. But holy smokes is she bringing the noise right now. She’s exactly what we need in this situation. I’m loving it.

  23. PhillyGal says:

    Love Nancy, but the problem is that Trump has broken so many laws and rules up to this point, he will likely get his way on this as well.

  24. Mina says:

    I don’t think this is a smart move. He’s just going to be invited by McConnell to give the address in front of the Senate where Republicans hold the majority. More favorable turf for him; she comes off as petulant.

    • Lightpurple says:

      The Senate Majority Leader needs the approval of the Speaker of the House to invite a President into the Capitol and vice versa. It’s a separation of powers thing to prevent a president from having too much power.

    • Maya says:

      Nope Nancy overwrites McConnell and he knows it.

    • CA Family Code says:

      It’s true, Nancy outranks, but he can gather his SOTU anywhere with full court press. I get her making the effort. It’s a matter of respect however futile, Thing is…a very real issue here…DUMP doesn’t want to address the House of Representatives. Now he will twist this into something it’s not OF COURSE. He’s been tweeting and speaking to press all day basically covering all of his SOTU points seeew…this backfired. Pelosi gave him fuel for his DIATRIBE and got her trip cancelled

  25. Fig says:

    @IslaLund 👏 thank you

    You were able to express my thoughts more clearly. I think I’m too emotional to get my point across intelligently 🙂

    And thank you Celebitchys for yr support!

  26. Eve says:

    And it didn’t take long for Trump to retaliate.

    Just saw on CNN he denied Pelosi the use of a military plane — basically disclosing what was supposed to be a secret trip that included Afeghanistan and Egypt.

    This kind of trip — to war zones — are reported AFTER they’ve happened for many reasons but mostly for security ones. It almost feels like he’s announcing to the Taliban and ISIS that the Speaker of the House is going there (so…get her, guys!).

    I guess she will have to cancel the trip now (it also included Belgium).

    • Tiffany :) says:

      He is the pettiest MF on earth. What a little tiny man.

    • goofpuff says:

      Yes, he doesn’t care about putting other people in danger. She has to cancel now for security reasons. Obviously because of the shutdown, he could care less what other parts of the government he disrupts. I’m amazed anyone gives him briefings anymore. he doesn’t seem to understand the ‘secret’ part of ‘top secret’.

      Honestly, we sign our lives away when we do stuff for that and can be put in jail. why doesn’t someone put his ass in jail for leaking top secret information like this????!!!

      • Christin says:

        Good point about us regular folks and how we’d be fired for breaching confidentiality at our jobs. We’d also likely be terminated for lying a single time.

    • Christin says:

      Incompetent and unfit. What additional evidence does anyone need to realize this?

      I just heard that she and other reps were on a military bus, headed to the plane when he pulled this stunt. And he himself has never been to Afghanistan!

      • goofpuff says:

        Take off the gloves Pelosi – she’s working up to it and I hope this pushes her to be more ruthless. I’m tired of women always having to ‘aim high’ or ‘be better’ while the men get to be steaming piles of f*ckery and get away with it every time.

  27. Izzy says:

    And the thing is, she is absolutely correct about the security concerns. If I was an elected Congresswoman, I would not be anywhere near that event during the shutdown.

  28. Megsie says:

    What a pair these two are

  29. Anare says:

    I would be totally fine with President Nancy Pelosi. Can we just get rid of the orange clown and the weirdo Veep and give the job to the Speaker of the House? Please end this national nightmare.