Pelosi Urged To Auction Off President Trump's Ripped Speech For Charity

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was urged by Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) to auction off her copy of President Donald Trump’s speech at the State of the Union, which she dramatically ripped off at the end of his address Tuesday night.

Long said that he went up to Pelosi after she ripped up the copy of Trump’s speech and asked her to auction it off for charity like he was about to do with the tie he was wearing at the address which Trump signed.

“I went up to @SpeakerPelosi as she was showing off her ripped up speech to the gallery and I said you should auction that off for charity. She said no I’m keeping it for prosperity. I said no auction it for charity. That’s what I’m doing w/the tie @realDonaldTrump signed tonight,” Long tweeted.

As Trump finished addressing the State of the Union, Pelosi stole the show as she stood and tore the printed copy of Trump’s speech in half. When asked why she did it, she told reporters that given the alternative, it was the courteous thing to do.

Trump had earlier refused to shake Pelosi’s hand as he stepped up to the stage, setting up the stage for the clash. To loud applause from Republicans and resounding "Boos!" from Democrats, Trump then began bragging about his accomplishments while slamming Democrats and his predecessor, Barack Obama, for their alleged failings.

Pelosi, who took the torn up speech and waved it at her family and friends, came under criticism from the White House and congressional Republicans, who termed her actions "disgraceful and petty."

"How petty of Pelosi. Ripping up a piece of paper doesn't change the facts that were written on it — Americans are winning, in spite of the do-nothing Democrats," a tweet by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said.