Ah, Nancy Pelosi—always ready to lecture the rest of us about “power,” even while dodging hecklers and defending unpopular policies. During her recent book tour promoting The Art of Power (a title that screams humility, doesn’t it?), Pelosi faced an unwelcome reality check: even in a room full of likely sympathizers, her talking points couldn’t drown out the rising frustration over her party’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war.
Let’s start with her New York event, where Pelosi told Katie Couric that her book aims to “set the record straight” on her disagreements with President George W. Bush over the Iraq War. That’s rich, considering Pelosi was initially silent when it mattered most. It’s easy to “disagree” with a war long after the damage is done.
But the real fireworks came when a heckler interrupted her, shouting about children dying in Gaza. Her response? A condescending “thank you” and a dismissive wave to quiet the audience. Pelosi added, “Don’t worry about that, I’m from San Francisco, I’m used to this,” as though her constituents’ protests are a badge of honor. It’s classic Pelosi: deflect, downplay, and move on.
Of course, Pelosi didn’t stop there. She predicted that the press would focus on the interruption, claiming, “They’ll get what they want.” Yes, Nancy, the media will undoubtedly cover you getting heckled—but maybe that’s because even your own base is fed up with the Democratic Party’s muddled stance on the Middle East. And while Pelosi paused for a moment of prayer for Israeli hostages, she completely sidestepped the larger criticisms about civilian casualties in Gaza.
Pelosi said, “Thank you,” and gestured for the crowd to settle down. “Don’t worry about that; I’m from San Francisco; I’m used to this,” speaking to the heckler.
“They’ll get what they want because all the press will say that I got interrupted,” she continued.
WATCH: Protesters SCREAM at and BOO Nancy Pelosi for 2 Minutes Straight 🤣
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 12, 2024
This wasn’t an isolated incident, either. At another book event in Massachusetts, Pelosi faced chants of “Nancy, Nancy, you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.” While she attempted to defend Biden’s approach, including his support for a two-state solution, her words rang hollow. When you’re in a party scrambling to appease both progressive activists and pro-Israel moderates, contradictions are inevitable. Biden’s administration has been all over the map on this issue, and Pelosi’s carefully worded platitudes do little to bridge the gap.
What’s most telling is Pelosi’s pivot to her favorite fallback topic: Donald Trump. She admitted that her book wouldn’t be complete without discussing her “experiences” during his presidency, including—you guessed it—January 6. Pelosi can’t seem to resist taking a swipe at Trump, even during a discussion about her own legacy. It’s as if her political identity is tied more to opposing him than to any cohesive policy achievements.
Pelosi’s remarks on Gaza highlight the Democrats’ growing fractures. She wants to position herself as a seasoned leader advocating for peace, but the hecklers tell a different story. Her audience isn’t buying the carefully curated messaging anymore. Whether it’s her party’s handling of foreign policy or the legacy of her own tenure as Speaker, Pelosi’s attempts to control the narrative are falling flat.
If The Art of Power is about Pelosi’s career, it might be better subtitled The Art of Evasion. From deflecting on Gaza to blaming Trump for everything under the sun, Pelosi’s book tour isn’t just promoting her memoir—it’s a tour through the Democratic Party’s increasingly glaring contradictions.
