President Donald Trump thinks Nancy Pelosi’s opponents are wasting their time and says he will gladly help her get elected as Speaker of the House.
“I would help Nancy Pelosi if she needs the votes,” the president told reporters outside the White House before he left for California on Saturday. “She may need some votes.”
“I will perform wonderful service for her,” he added, explaining he would get her Republican votes if she needed them.
“I like her, can you believe it?” Trump told reporters outside the White House before departing for California. “She’s tough and she’s smart, but she deserves to be speaker.”
Trump echoed an earlier tweet in which he said he could get Pelosi “as many votes as she wants” to be speaker.
I can get Nancy Pelosi as many votes as she wants in order for her to be Speaker of the House. She deserves this victory, she has earned it – but there are those in her party who are trying to take it away. She will win! @TomReedCongress
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 17, 2018
Pelosi, who last held the gavel when Democrats controlled the House in 2007 – 2011, is “confident” she will be speaker. But a group of at least 17 House Democrats have signed statement declaring they won’t support her and Democrat Rep. Marcia Fudge of Ohio is considering mounting a challenge.
Trump told reporters the California Democrat and the first female Speaker in U.S. history, is facing “harassment” just as he is regularly harassed as president.
“I don’t imagine she’d need too many but whatever number of votes she needs, if it’s 50, or 10, or two or one, she’s got them from me — automatic,” he said. “So tell her opposition they’re wasting their time.”
Pelosi needs a majority of the Democratic caucus and then a majority of the House to get her old job back.
Questions arose as to whether Trump’s offer was one of bipartisan cooperation or if there was an ulterior political motive.
Having Pelosi as speaker would be “the best thing in the world for Republicans,” GOP strategist Chris Wilson said on “Fox and Friends” on Friday.
“She reminds the American people why they don’t like politics. She reminds them why they don’t like Democrats, quite frankly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 78-year-old Democrat is pretty clear she does not need the help.
“Oh please, never,” she said, according to Fox News. “Never, never, come on.”
“I intend to win the speakership with Democratic votes,” she said, adding that she had “overwhelming support.”
Twitter users weighed in on the president’s motives for supporting Pelosi.
Trump knows the Democrats cannot be bipartisan, but by reaching out to Pelosi, he appeases the Independents who want bipartisanship.
Trump is setting himself up as the “reasonable person in a room full of crazies” for 2020.
— Bill Mitchell (@mitchellvii) November 17, 2018
This is funny. What are the Dems gonna do now?
— Christian Lamar (@christianllamar) November 17, 2018
reverse Trumpian psychology… he will have them fighting each other to place anyone but her there lol…. and if it does end up being her, he will claim it as a victory of his own lol…. 4D chess
— Greg Stump (@gestumpo) November 17, 2018
Must say, well played by @POTUS pic.twitter.com/qoGLzAVUbW
— Devil Dog (@TTNov101775) November 17, 2018
Pelosi is good for Trump’s reelection. She is a weak and ineffectual leader. Of course he wants her as Speaker.
— CAM (@CAM373737) November 17, 2018
I don’t know what to think about that
— Johnny Slickwater (@GoldenHawk61) November 17, 2018
I think he just knows she’s a wonderful foil for Republicans. She, like Hillary, is the gift that keeps on giving.
— ????????MAGAme???????? (@heyjustmaga) November 17, 2018
Via BPR
