President Donald Trump on Sunday called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “very nervous, very confused woman” who is about to be overtaken by the “radical left” of the Democratic Party.
In a pre-Super Bowl interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump said Pelosi initially was resistant to pursue impeachment proceedings against him and is now seeing her fears realized.
“I don’t think she wanted to do this,” Trump said. “I think she really knew what was going to happen, and her worst nightmare has happened. I don’t think she’s going be there too long, either. I think that the radical left – and she’s sort of radical left too, by the way – but I think the radical left is going take over.”
The remarks came only three days before the Republican-controlled Senate appears set to acquit Trump on charges brought by the Democratic-controlled House of obstructing Congress and abusing his authority in relation to withholding military aid to Ukraine. The Senate voted on Friday to not require witnesses before rendering a verdict.
MORE: Trump Appears to Mock Pelosi at USMCA Signing
A two-thirds vote is required to convict, and it appears only Democrats, who make up 45 of the 100-member Senate, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats, are likely to vote to remove Trump.
Trump’s comments also come two days before he was to give the annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress.
The practice of the sitting president being interviewed by the network carrying the Super Bowl started in 2004. George W. Bush sat for a lighthearted chat in the White House with CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz that year.
Not just Pelosi: Trump ridicules other Democrats on the “radical left”
Asked by Hannity about his potential Democratic rivals, Trump singled out Mike Bloomberg. The former mayor of New York has spent millions of dollars in TV ads criticizing the president.
“You know, now he wants a box for the debates to stand on. OK, it’s OK, there’s nothing wrong. You can be short,” Trump said. “Why should he get a box to stand on, OK? He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that? Really. Does that mean everyone else gets a box? … I would love to run against Bloomberg.”
Bloomberg had been registering in the single digits in polls heading into Monday’s Iowa caucuses, the first voting test for the Democratic primary field.
News reports have circulated that the Democratic establishment is worried about Iowa front-runner Sen. Bernie Sanders being an avowed socialist and how it could impact the party nominee’s chances in the November general election.
Former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel told ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday that Sanders’ campaign could lead to a wide divide among Democrats while simultaneously alienating moderate or swing voters.
NBC News reported online Sunday that one of its analysts overheard former Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry saying he may have to enter the race to prevent “the possibility of Bernie Sanders taking down the Democratic Party — down whole.”
Kerry, however, tweeted later in the day that he is “absolutely” not running for president.
As I told the reporter, I am absolutely not running for President. Any report otherwise is categorically false. I’ve been proud to campaign with my good friend Joe Biden, who is going to win the nomination, beat Trump, and make an outstanding president.
— John Kerry (@JohnKerry) February 2, 2020
Asked by Hannity about Sanders, Trump called him a “communist.”
MORE: Bloomberg Endorses “Big Gay Ice Cream” in TV Ad
“Well, I think he’s a communist,” he said. “I mean, you know, look, I think of communism when I think of Bernie. You could say ‘socialist.’ Didn’t he get married in Moscow?”
Hannity added that that Sanders had honeymooned in the Soviet Union.
Trump compared him to Warren, whom he suggested panders to voters.
“She’s not true to it,” Trump said. “I call her ‘fairy tale.’ Because everything’s a fairy tale. That’s how Pocahontas got started. This woman can’t tell the truth.”