Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi took a seat at The View table to discuss her new book, The Art of Power, which reflects on her husband’s brutal attack.
“He’s coming along a little more time. He was hit on the head three times,” Pelosi said during Monday’s episode. “It was a horrible thing, and that was physical, but the traumatic effect for him, for us, for the family, but also for other political families as well. Violence has no place in any resolution of any discussion you may have.”
Paul Pelosi, 82, was attacked in their San Francisco home in October 2022. An intruder broke into their residence and assaulted him with a hammer. The attack left him with significant injuries, including a skull fracture.
September 7, 2024: Nancy Pelosi Speaker Emerita of the U.S. House of Representatives, D-California talks about her new book, the state of play in the U.S. House and what happens on Election Day at The Texas Tribune Festival. Austin, Texas. Mario Cantu/CSM
Cal Sport Media via AP Images
The assailant, David DePape, demanded to see the former speaker, who was not home during the assault. DePape was sentenced to 30 years in prison by a California judge in May.
Pelosi said she didn’t even know if her husband was alive when they first heard about the attack.
The former speaker then revealed that allegedly “someone who shall remain nameless” [Trump] was making jokes about the attack. His family and Republican governors also joined in the mockery, which she found to be “horrible.”
A federal trial is underway into the attack on Paul Pelosi, pictured here with wife Nancy Pelosi at function at the Lincoln Center in New York City back on April 23, 2019.
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for TIME
“We have to stop the violence,” Pelosi concluded.
The Race for President
She also weighed in on the race for the White House, offering her insights on the upcoming 2024 Presidential Election.
Pelosi said she believes it will be on Vice President Kamala Harris’ part to unify the American people, taking away all the disruption former President Donald Trump has caused over the years.
“I know her [Harris] as a strong leader,” Pelosi said. “She knows the policy, she knows the strategy, she has the eloquence to convey it, and politically, she’s very astute.”
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Vice Pres. Harris: “The historic nature of her candidacy is very emotional for me because I know her personally, and I know how important it is to our country.” pic.twitter.com/PMXBnCwY7m
— The View (@TheView) September 9, 2024
Regarding Tuesday’s debate, Pelosi said Harris is well-prepared and in command of her approach, indicating she does not need any advice, as she is fully capable on her own.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., right, and Vice President Kamala Harris, speak before President Joe Biden arrives to deliver his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington.
Saul Loeb/AP Photo
“She’ll be there to talk about an economy that works for everyone, about promoting freedom, about taking us into a wonderful, unified future,” Pelosi said. “She cares about the people he cares about himself.”
The ABC debate on September 10 will be the first presidential debate since President Joe Biden went head-to-head with Trump in June.
The Art of Power
In The Art of Power, Pelosi reflects on her journey from being a mother of five to becoming the first female speaker of the House, highlighting her pivotal role in shaping key legislation, such as the 2008 economic rescue and healthcare reform.
She emphasizes the perseverance and leadership required to navigate political challenges, working with presidents from Bush to Biden.
Pelosi also shares her moral stance on major issues like the Iraq War and her fierce opposition to Trump, especially during the events of January 6, 2021.
The book offers personal insights into her family, including the traumatic attack on her husband, and showcases her fighting spirit and historic legacy as a leader unafraid of difficult battles.
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