Former US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi discusses her views on former President Donald Trump and his supporters, and where she sees the biggest geopolitical risks during an interview with Francine Lacqua in Venice.
PELOSI: People are afraid of him now because as you see his desperation — in other words, it’s one thing to say we have a disagreement on policy, ok, and we do. But there’s another thing to say that — that truth is not prevailing. But it’s another thing to say there’s a recognition of all the violations of the rule of law that any person is above the law undermining the press which is the freedom of the press is the guardian of the gate of freedom. So he was clever. He undermined the press. Undermined the rule of law. I’m above the law. So, seeing the length to which he will go, of course, is more frightening. He’s a threat to our democracy but we intend to win.
FRANCINE LACQUA, BLOOMBERG NEWS: He’s so popular with the voters.
PELOSI: He’s popular among his group.
REPORTER: Are you surprised at how popular he is with people?
PELOSI: I’m never surprised. It’s not a word I use. I just don’t use — it’s interesting to see how there’s a certain element of the population who will just go for him. They’re people we would never get. They don’t share our values in terms of respect for the dignity and worth of every person and the rest.
But there are some who are supporting him that are just afraid. They don’t see a place for their families in the future. They’re concerned about globalization, they’re concerned about immigration, they’re concerned about innovation. They’re concerned about diversity, women, minorities, other people coming into the leadership arena. And they — and that’s to be respected.
So I respect all the people of America. And when people ask me, are you afraid of what might happen? I say no because of the goodness of the American people, the strength of our democracy. We will prevail. And my motto is the flag is still there, as we say in our national anthem.
REPORTER: Is there a Republican candidate you can live with?
PELOSI: I’m not into Republicans; I’m into Democrats. Hopefully, the Republican party can find a candidate that they can live with. I say to the Republicans all the time: take back your party. The Republican party is a great party. You’ve done great things to our country. You’re not a cult to a thug. You’re a great grand old party.
Recapture that because America needs a strong Republican party. A strong Democratic party too, but strong Republican party. So hopefully as soon as we get through this — shall we say, cancerous situation that we’re in, the malignancy of Trump, that they will emerge in a strong way with the leadership that I know is there in the Republican party. Not necessarily in the Congress, but in the country.
