Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stirred controversy at the Texas Tribune Festival over the weekend, implying that former President Donald Trump might skip the upcoming presidential debate out of “cowardice.”

Her comments have provoked a sharp response from the Trump campaign, which accused her of spreading “fake news.”

During a conversation with journalist Kara Swisher, Pelosi discussed various topics, including her take on the forthcoming ABC News Presidential Debate scheduled for Tuesday in Philadelphia, where Trump is set to face off against Kamala Harris.

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When asked what advice Pelosi would offer Trump, she responded skeptically about his participation: “You think he’s gonna show up?” This remark elicited laughter and applause from the audience.

Swisher probed further, asking if Pelosi knew something that the public did not. Pelosi’s reply was cutting: “I know cowardice when I see it.”

JUST IN: Nancy Pelosi is casting doubt that Trump will show up for the debate.

“Do you know something I don’t know?”

“I know cowardice when I see it.”

Pelosi is a communist lunatic. Let’s stop acting like she’s got all of her marbles.pic.twitter.com/CZRiVUmF2a

— Kyle Becker (@kylenabecker) September 9, 2024

The exchange highlighted ongoing tensions between the former House Speaker and the former president, who have frequently clashed in public.

Swisher also referenced remarks by former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who had previously called Trump a “misogynist pig” at the same festival. Pelosi praised Cheney, saying, “Isn’t she wonderful?”

In her conversation with Swisher, Pelosi also referred to herself as “Speaker Emerita,” though she noted that “Speaker” remains her title.

The Trump campaign quickly rebuked Pelosi’s suggestions about Trump potentially skipping the debate. Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, told Fox News Digital, “Nancy Pelosi has no idea what she is talking about and has been proven to be a liar and fraud. If she isn’t busy giving herself fake titles to make herself feel better, she’s peddling fake news because it’s the only thing she’s ever done.”

This spat is the latest in a long history of animosity between Pelosi and Trump. Their contentious relationship was famously encapsulated in 2020 when Pelosi tore up her printed copy of Trump’s State of the Union address immediately after his speech to a Joint Session of Congress, an act that drew significant media attention and public commentary.

As the debate approaches, all eyes are on Trump and Harris, with many wondering if Pelosi’s provocative comments might foreshadow an unconventional approach by Trump to the upcoming electoral events.

The debate remains a critical moment for both candidates as they seek to sway voters ahead of the November election.

The back-and-forth between Pelosi and the Trump campaign underscores the deeply polarized nature of current American politics, where even the anticipation of a presidential debate can become a battleground for accusations and insinuations from both sides of the aisle.

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