Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement, Trump Torches Her ‘Evil’ And ‘Corrupt’ Legacy
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will step down from Congress at the end of her term in January 2027, ending a four decade run that reshaped Democratic politics and fueled some of the fiercest battles of the Trump era. The 85 year old California Democrat made the announcement Thursday in a video to her constituents, opening with “Dear San Francisco” and thanking voters for allowing her to represent the city since 1987.
Pelosi emphasized her connection to her district rather than Washington, saying she “truly loved serving as your voice in Congress” and would spend the next year finishing her work before leaving office.
Thank you, San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/OP8ubeFzR6
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) November 6, 2025
Her retirement immediately sparked reactions across the political spectrum, but none louder than President Donald Trump’s. The president blasted Pelosi as “evil” and “corrupt,” saying her departure was “a great thing for America.” The two have a long and bitter history, from public clashes during his first term to Pelosi’s leadership of the impeachment proceedings Democrats pursued twice while Trump was in office.
Pelosi’s exit will trigger a high stakes Democratic primary in one of the country’s deepest blue districts. Several candidates had already begun positioning themselves even before her announcement. State Sen. Scott Wiener, a hard left progressive, jumped into the race last month, framing his campaign around fighting what he calls “fascism” in America. Former AOC chief of staff Saikat Chakrabarti is also running, setting up a contest likely dominated by the party’s activist left.
Pelosi’s decision comes as Democrats hope to reclaim the House in 2026, a fight made tougher after Republicans made gains in the last cycle and now hold a narrow Senate majority. Her announcement also follows the passage of California’s Proposition 50, a redistricting measure Pelosi strongly backed. The ballot initiative, designed to give Democrats a structural advantage in the state’s congressional map until 2030, passed overwhelmingly but now faces a federal lawsuit from the California GOP.
Reaction online was swift. Progressive activists praised Pelosi’s career, while conservatives mocked her long tenure. “After serving for nearly 200 years, Nancy Pelosi won’t seek reelection,” commentator Jason Rantz joked. Others on the left hailed her as a “GOAT” of party leadership.
With Pelosi’s retirement set, San Francisco’s political class now enters a scramble for a seat long considered untouchable — one she guarded for nearly 40 years as she rose to become one of the most powerful figures in modern Democratic politics.