There were countless highlights at last night’s State of the Union address, from President Trump recognizing Venezuela’s embattled Acting President Juan Guaidó to Melania presenting an emotional Rush Limbaugh with the Medal of Freedom.
WATCH:
Throughout the pomp and circumstance, observers couldn’t help but notice the animosity between Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Trump appeared to ignore Pelosi’s attempt to shake his hand after ascending the dais. At the end of the 78-minute speech, the California Democrat ripped up her copy before tossing it aside.
WATCH:
As he walked to the podium for his address, President Trump did not shake Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s hand, although it was unclear whether it was an intentional snub https://t.co/UOJyqNXas1 pic.twitter.com/hxW5J0LKib
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) February 5, 2020
Nancy Pelosi ends #SOTU by ripping up Trump’s speech. pic.twitter.com/kZoGEU3Z1i
— Bill Kuchman (@billkuchman) February 5, 2020
But the media has mostly ignored who struck first.
The Speaker of the House broke congressional tradition by only introducing the command-in-chief as “the President of the United States.”
Previous Speakers – including those overseeing impeachment proceedings – introduced presidents by emphasizing that they had the “high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the President of the United States.”
Business Insider has more:
Former Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Illinois introduced President Bill Clinton with all the formalities in 1999, when Clinton, like Trump, was facing his impeachment trial.
Paul Ryan, the former House Speaker from Wisconsin, similarly introduced President Barack Obama in the 2016 State of the Union address. But Ryan’s introduction of Trump in 2018 reportedly raised a few eyebrows, after he mistakenly said he had the privilege of “preventing” the president, before quickly correcting himself.
…
Pelosi also gave President George W. Bush the full introduction in the 2007 State of the Union address.
For her part, Pelosi expressed no remorse or regrets when asked about ripping up the speech.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi on why she ripped up President Trump’s speech: “Because it was the courteous thing to do considering the alternatives.” pic.twitter.com/nYTjAZAwGo
— Jason Donner (@jason_donner) February 5, 2020
She reportedly added that it was a “dirty speech.”
AAN Staff
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