Pelosi Has 'Nervous Fit' When Asked If She Hates Trump: 'Don’t Mess With Me'

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who once described herself as "a practicing and respectful Catholic," lashed out in irritation at a right-wing reporter who asked if she hated president Donald Trump.

As Pelosi was leaving the podium following a question-and-answer with media, James Rosen, a reporter for the controversial Sinclair Broadcast Group often accused of right-wing bias, blurted out, “Do you hate the president?”

A startled Pelosi paused, pointed a finger at Rosen and replied: “I don’t hate anybody. I was raised in a Catholic house. We don’t hate anyone, not anybody in the world. So don’t you accuse me ....”

“I did not accuse you," Rosen retorted. "I asked you a question."

He told Pelosi he based his question on a remark made by Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA), a Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, who said Democrats were impeaching Trump simply because “they don’t like the guy.”

After exchanging a few more words with Rosen, Pelosi returned to the podium where she blasted Trump for his sins.

“I think the president is a coward when it comes to helping our kids, who are afraid of gun violence," said Pelosi. "I think he is cruel when he doesn’t deal with helping our Dreamers, of which we’re very proud. I think he’s in denial about the climate crisis."

“However, that’s about the election. This is about the -- take it up in the election,” she said. She said the impeachment inquiry about the president's violation of the U.S. Constitution and his oath of office.

“And as a Catholic, I resent your using the word ‘hate’ in a sentence that addresses me," she declared, adding she constantly prays for the president.

"I pray for the president all the time. So don’t mess with me when it comes to words like that."

Pelosi's exchange with Rosen, and her proud declaration of her Catholicism, immediately became a talking point on the D.C. media circuit. Pundits pointed out Rosen must have hit a nerve with Pelosi for her to address the issue after a press conference. They noted it's Pelosi's usual practice at the end of a presser to leave immediately and not return.

Pelosi's remarks about her Catholicism again opened the issue of her rift with the Catholic Church on moral issues she supports such as abortion and LGBTQ rights, both of which are at odds with current Catholic dogma.

Trump later tweeted he didn't believe Pelosi prays for him, “not even close.” He also claims Pelosi had suffered a “nervous fit” during her briefing.

“She hates that we will soon have 182 great new judges and sooo much more,” tweeted Trump.

During her second year as Speaker of the House in 2008, Pelosi affirmed in a TV inteview that "as an ardent, practicing Catholic, (abortion) is an issue that I have studied for a long time. And what I know is, over the centuries, the doctors of the church have not been able to make that definition.” She added that her faith shouldn't impact her right to choose.

Her remarks later drew a rebuke from 22 Catholic bishops.

Pelosi graduated from the Institute of Notre Dame, an all-girls Catholic high school in Baltimore. In 1962, she graduated from the Catholic Trinity College in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Arts in political science. Trinity College is now Trinity Washington University.