Ahead of President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi offered a strategy to her fellow Democrats: avoid giving him any attention. In an interview with the Washington Post, Pelosi urged Democrats to resist any overt displays of disagreement during Trump’s address, advising, “Let him stew in his own juice.” She emphasized that no visual demonstrations of disapproval, no matter how minor, should be allowed to distract from Trump’s message. Pelosi’s approach was simple: don’t provide ammunition for critics to claim that the Democrats were disruptive.
Trump’s speech, set for 9 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday, will be his first address before Congress since his return to the White House. While it may resemble a State of the Union address, it won’t carry that official title since Trump has only recently resumed office after a year-long absence. His speech is expected to promote his “Make America Great Again” agenda and offer a glimpse of his administration’s priorities moving forward. Trump himself teased the speech on Truth Social, promising, “TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE BIG. I WILL TELL IT LIKE IT IS!”
Pelosi’s comments on how Democrats should approach the speech reflect her experiences with Trump in the past. During his 2020 State of the Union, Pelosi made headlines when she tore up his speech as he stood behind her on the House dais. She later explained that her decision was based on the falsehoods she believed were in the speech, noting how difficult it was to tear the parchment.
Pelosi also advised her colleagues to be strategic in their opposition. She suggested that only Democrats from safe districts should take bold actions against Trump’s policies, avoiding a disorganized display of resistance from the entire party. In her view, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries had already mastered the art of prioritizing the party’s goals.
Rather than focusing on Trump’s next four years, Pelosi emphasized the importance of preparing for the 2026 midterm elections. She stressed the critical nature of the upcoming fall cycle and expressed optimism about securing a strong position for Democrats, with an eye toward gaining more than just a few seats in the House. In her words, “It’s not about the next four years, it’s about winning the midterms.” Pelosi’s message was clear: focus on the future and the numbers, not the present spectacle.