After the brutal terrorist attack in London that killed seven people and wounded at least 48 more, Nancy Pelosi showed President Trump how a President is supposed to react to an attack on one of our allies with a stateswoman’s statement of solidarity.
Instead of tweeting to blame the Mayor and use the attack to further a personal political agenda or leaking intelligence on the terrorists, Leader Pelosi issued a dignified statement of strength and solidarity.
“Today, the American people stand in solidarity with the people of the United Kingdom, and share in the shock and outrage of this brutal attack. We send our thoughts and prayers to the fallen, the injured and those still waiting for news of their loved ones,” Pelosi said in a statement sent to PoliticusUSA.
“Terrorists will not succeed in dimming the strength and spirit of the people of the United Kingdom. Last night’s vile attack – the third act of terror to target the United Kingdom in three months – was met with courage and resilience from first responders and from civilian heroes who refused to be intimidated by violence and hatred.”
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Pelosi vowed to work with the U.K to defeat terrorists, “The United States will continue to proudly work side-by-side with the U.K. to defeat terrorist threats and defend the security of all peace-loving people.”
And lastly, a bit of grace, “May the people of the United Kingdom find solace in knowing that the American people stand with them during this difficult time.”
Pelosi certainly wasn’t trying to show Trump how it’s done, but she might well have been trying to extend a hand to our allies to show them that not all of America has abandoned them in their hour of need.
This is the kind of statement we expect from our leaders, whether they mean it or not. Trump can’t even be bothered to pretend, to do the most basic things a President should be doing.
Although this isn’t what Pelosi’s statement was meant to do, it is a sad reminder of the kind of leadership our country gave away by buying into Russian propaganda and Republican dark money efforts to smear the most qualified presidential candidate in modern history. Hillary Clinton wouldn’t have been carelessly tweeting crazy statements during a terrorist attack on an ally.
It is humiliating to be associated with a President who behaves like this. No two ways about it.
Merely by being the stateswoman that her years of leadership created, Nancy Pelosi’s dignity showed up the President. That is not her fault; it is his. Exceptionalism can’t be bought; it’s made through hard work.
Listen to Sarah on the PoliticusUSA Pod on The Daily newsletter podcast here.
Sarah has been credentialed to cover President Barack Obama, then VP Joe Biden, 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, and exclusively interviewed Speaker Nancy Pelosi multiple times and exclusively covered her first home appearance after the first impeachment of then President Donald Trump.
Sarah is two-time Telly award winning video producer and a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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