President Trump declined to shake hands with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the start of his State of the Union address Tuesday, less than two months after Democrats in the same House chamber voted to impeach him.
As he ascended the podium, Trump handed a copy of his speech to Vice President Mike Pence and another to Pelosi, who extended her hand to the president. Trump turned away without shaking it.
Then Pelosi introduced Trump by saying simply: “Ladies and gentlemen, the president of the United States.” The custom has been for the speaker to intone: “Members of Congress, I have the high privilege and distinct honor of presenting to you the president of the United States.”
Pelosi and many other Democratic congresswomen were dressed in white in tribute to the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which gave women the right to vote. The speaker also wore a gold pin on her lapel that she also wore on the day Trump was impeached.
“That pin is the mace of the United States House of Representatives. It’s 13 bundled rods with a globe on top of them and with an American bald eagle,” Pelosi explained at the time.
Republicans gave Trump a rousing welcome, while Democrats held their applause through much of the early portions of his speech.
Minutes after the speech had concluded, and Pelosi had made a display of ripping it up, the House Speaker returned to the handshake.
Democrats will never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done #ForThePeople. We will work to find common ground where we can, but will stand our ground where we cannot. #SOTU pic.twitter.com/ELJqR9q4xD
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) February 5, 2020
_____
Read more from Yahoo News:
