Washington, D.C. — In an explosive interview that has lit up the airwaves, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went off script and unleashed profanity toward Republicans while defending Democratic priorities on health care. Her remarks underscored just how high the stakes have become as a looming government shutdown threatens essential services.
During an exchange with an NBC reporter probing whether she believed a productive White House negotiation was imminent, Pelosi refused to moderate her tone. She responded:
“I have no idea. Going into it, let’s review what the President has said. What we’re talking about is meeting the health care needs of the American people, little babies, moms with breast cancer, dads with a stroke, and all of that. … The President has said, ‘I hear what they’re saying. It’s all unserious and ridiculous.’
In fact, I’ve listened to their sht, and I tell them to go fck themselves.”
She later added, with apparent self-awareness: “I can’t believe I use that word. My kids will be shocked. My grandchildren will be further shocked. I’m just quoting the President of the United States.”
“I think the leverage springs not from any shared values with him … but that it is something they’re hearing from constituents that they do not want to see the health care costs go up if the ACA subsidies are not extended.”
Her emotional outburst comes as Democrats face internal turmoil over whether to fund health coverage for undocumented immigrants—a policy point Republicans have vehemently opposed. Conservative critics seized on Pelosi’s language as confirmation of what they argue is Democratic extremism: that the party is willing to threaten a shutdown to advance policies critics say are fiscally irresponsible and politically unpopular.
Republican leaders have already begun using Pelosi’s remarks to galvanize voters and frame the next round of negotiations as a moral standoff.
