Nancy Pelosi Urges Democrats to Let Trump 'Stew in His Own Juice' During Congressional Address

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has some sharp advice for Democrats ahead of President Donald Trump's congressional address: "Let him stew in his own juice." Speaking to the Washington Post, Pelosi encouraged her party to avoid any overt displays of disagreement during Trump’s speech, emphasizing that such reactions could be used against them. "Don’t be any grist for the mill to say this was inappropriate," she warned.

Set to take place Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST, Trump’s address will serve as his first speech before Congress since returning to the presidency in January. While not officially titled a State of the Union, it’s expected to echo his trademark "Make America Great Again" rhetoric and lay out his administration's priorities. Trump himself teased the event on Truth Social, promising, "TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE BIG. I WILL TELL IT LIKE IT IS!" Subtle as ever.

Pelosi, who famously tore up a copy of Trump’s 2020 State of the Union speech on live television, reflected on that moment during her interview. She revealed that she started by making small tears on pages she disagreed with, but ultimately decided to shred the entire document when she concluded, "Every page was a lie." She added with a touch of humor, "Parchment is very hard to tear." No doubt she’s still got some solid biceps from that moment.

Pelosi advised Democrats to prioritize their battles and focus on upcoming elections, rather than Trump’s next four years in office. She emphasized the importance of securing seats in the 2026 midterms, pointing out that Democrats are just three seats away from flipping the House. "I don’t want three seats; I want many more than that," she said, rallying her troops.

As for handling Trump’s address, Pelosi urged Democrats to keep their heads cool unless the moment truly calls for it. "Unless you have something that is a moment," she said, referring to her dramatic 2020 speech-ripping stunt. "That’s what a moment was." However, she suggested that only members in safe districts should be making bold political gestures, advising others to focus on local priorities.

Pelosi’s pragmatic outlook seemed to underscore her confidence in House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to steer the party in the right direction. "He has that down," she said, referring to his ability to prioritize effectively. And while she didn’t completely rule out the occasional splashy protest, her message was clear: don’t hand Trump any ammunition on a silver platter.

With Trump expected to champion his policies loudly and unapologetically, it remains to be seen how Democrats will respond. But one thing is certain: Pelosi still knows how to command a room—even from the sidelines.