Nancy Pelosi Warns Trump’s ‘Cognitive Deterioration’ and Violent Rhetoric Pose Risks to Democracy

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned voters Sunday about former President Donald Trump’s mental fitness and increasingly aggressive rhetoric, which she argues is evidence of a “cognitive deterioration” posing risks for the country.

In an interview on MSNBC with Jen Psaki, Pelosi said Trump’s recent erratic rally comments raise questions about his mental state and capacity to serve.

“You saw, recently, when he was talking about whether he chose electrocution or being eaten by sharks,” Pelosi said, referring to Trump’s remarks. “Something’s very wrong there.” She added that Trump’s apparent condition could lead to his running mate, Senator JD Vance of Ohio, assuming presidential duties if Trump were elected. “People who might be thinking about voting for him have to know that he can’t last as president for four years with his brain deteriorating at the rate that it is,” Pelosi stated. “They may be voting for President Vance, which would be horrible for our country.”

Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald Trump, greets supporters during a campaign event at the Resch Center on Oct. 30, 2024, in Green Bay, Wisc. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Concerns about Trump’s mental fitness have gained attention following a series of gaffes and lengthy off-topic remarks. At a Pennsylvania rally, Trump made comments about how an assassination attempt on him would need to “shoot through the fake news” and said, “I don’t mind that so much.” Pelosi called these remarks “further indication of his cognitive degeneration” and criticised Trump’s diminishing of the press, calling the media “the guardian of our freedom.”

Pelosi also touched on Trump’s violent rhetoric and its potential to incite threats, particularly against prominent figures like former Congresswoman Liz Cheney. Responding to Trump’s remarks about wanting to see Cheney in front of a firing squad, Pelosi reflected on the threats these statements pose. “It does have a chilling effect on people who may want to run for office,” Pelosi said, noting the increased risks to families of those in public service.

Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., speaks on stage during the third day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center on Aug. 21, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Psaki pressed Pelosi about the dangers of such rhetoric, especially given the violence her family has faced. Pelosi’s husband, Paul, was attacked in 2022 when an assailant broke into their San Francisco home with a hammer, leaving him with a head injury that required brain surgery.

Pelosi recounted how the attacker echoed phrases from the January 6 Capitol riot, such as “Where’s Nancy?” and shared that Trump later spread conspiracy theories about the attack, calling it “fake.”

Pelosi condemned Trump’s recent labelling of her as part of “the enemy within,” which he suggested might require intervention by the National Guard or military. Pelosi argued that Trump’s rhetoric endangered democratic principles and said the stakes of the upcoming election extend beyond policy, affecting the core values of freedom and security.