Why Nancy Pelosi Spouted Off On TV

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told CNN host Wolf Blitzer, "you don't know what you're talking about," during a heated exchange on a possible COVID-19 economic relief package.

Pelosi defended holding out for a measure that’s more extensive than President Donald Trump’s current proposal.

For months now, Pelosi and the Trump administration have been at odds regarding a pandemic relief package. Democrats seek a package totaling $2.2 trillion, while the Trump administration recently offered a $1.8 trillion proposal. Last spring, Democrats’ initial proposal totaled $3.4 trillion.

When prompted by Blitzer during Tuesday’s interview, Pelosi addressed a recent tweet from Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., that urged Democrats to consider the White House’s latest offer, because “people in need can’t wait until February.”

“I don’t know why you’re always an apologist,” Pelosi told Blitzer, “and many of your colleagues are apologists for the Republican position.”

“Nobody’s waiting until February,” Pelosi added. “I want this very much now, because people need help now. But it’s no use giving them a false thing just because the president wants to put a check with his name on it in the mail.”

Blitzer also asked Pelosi why she won’t directly hold talks with Trump to iron out a deal, since the speaker and president haven’t spoken in nearly a year. Pelosi has, however, held frequent talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in recent days.

“What makes me amused, if it weren’t so sad,” Pelosi said, “is how you all think that you know more about the suffering of the American people than those of us who are elected by them to represent them at that table.”

Moderate Democrats in the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus urged leaders to reach a deal to aid Americans who are in need due to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic. Because of that, Blitzer asked Pelosi is she’s reluctant to make a relief deal to “not allow the president to take credit if there’s a deal.”

“I don’t care about that,” Pelosi told Blitzer. “With all due respect, and you know we’ve known each other a long time, you really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, there’s some people who said this or that,” Pelosi added. “Overwhelmingly, my caucus wants what is right for the American people.”

Toward the end of Tuesday’s interview, Blitzer told Pelosi he’s sensitive to the needs of those struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic, because “I see them on the street begging for food, begging for money.”

To that, Pelosi replied, “Have you fed them? We feed them.”

The speaker also noted she’s confident about economic relief talks, noting “I feel confident about my colleagues, and I feel confidence in my [committee] chairs.”