Trump cheers Pelosi's looming retirement after former House leader says she won't seek reelection

President Donald Trump on Thursday appeared to celebrate former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's looming retirement from Congress, stating that the "evil woman" has done the country a "great service," by not seeking reelection.

The California Democrat made the announcement in a video earlier Thursday, in which she stated she would not run again in 2026, bringing an end to her nearly 40-year congressional career next year.

The president, who frequently clashed with Pelosi during his first term in office, claimed the 85-year-old was a "liability" to the United States. Pelosi has been in Congress since 1987.

“I think she’s an evil woman. I’m glad she’s retiring. I think she did the country a great service by retiring,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “I think she was a tremendous liability for the country. I thought she was an evil woman who did a poor job who cost the country a lot in damages and in reputation. I thought she was terrible.”

Two California Democrats have already thrown their hats in the ring to replace the first female House speaker, including California state Sen. Scott Wiener and Saikat Chakrabarti, a former top aide to New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, per the San Francisco Chronicle. 

The outlet speculated that Pelosi's daughter, Christine Pelosi, could also seek to replace her mother, along with San Francisco Supervisor Connie Chan, but neither have launched a bid so far.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.