Nancy Pelosi advises Democrats to let Trump ‘stew in his own juice’ during Congress address

Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has some advice for Democrats ahead of President Donald Trump’s upcoming address to both chambers of Congress: “Let him stew in his own juice.” In an interview with the Washington Post, Pelosi urged Democrats to avoid any overt displays of disagreement during Trump’s speech, advising them to not give him any ammunition to claim their behavior was inappropriate.

President Trump is scheduled to deliver an address before Congress on Tuesday evening, marking his first speech to both chambers since his return to the Oval Office in January. While the speech is similar to a State of the Union address, it does not carry the same official title as Trump has only been in office for a short period of time.

Trump is expected to use his speech to champion his “Make America Great Again” policies and outline his administration’s priorities. In a post on Truth Social, Trump teased that the address would be significant and promised to “tell it like it is.”

Pelosi, who famously tore up a copy of Trump’s State of the Union address in 2020, reflected on that moment in her interview with the Washington Post. She explained that she made little tears on each page of the speech when she disagreed with a comment from Trump, but ultimately decided to tear it up entirely when she realized that “every page was a lie.”

In her advice to Democrats, Pelosi emphasized the importance of prioritizing their actions. She suggested that only those in safe districts should make bold political statements against Trump’s policies, rather than having a chorus of Democrats all vowing to oppose him. Pelosi also stressed the need to focus on the upcoming midterm elections in 2026, rather than getting caught up in Trump’s next four years in office.

She urged Democrats to hold back any outbursts during Trump’s speech, noting that her decision to tear up the speech in 2020 was a calculated protest in a moment that presented itself. Pelosi emphasized the need for Democrats to rally support for the midterm elections, stating that they only need to gain three seats to make a significant impact.

Pelosi’s advice to Democrats comes as they prepare to listen to President Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday evening. As the political landscape continues to evolve, Pelosi’s guidance serves as a reminder for Democrats to strategize and focus on their goals in the months and years ahead.