Reports of damning Mueller findings prompt people to consider possibility of 'President Pelosi'

Click through the gallery for reactions to Pelosi's hypothetical presidency. less Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. walk out of the West Wing to speak to members of the media outside of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, following a meeting with President Donald Trump. Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. and Senate Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer of N.Y. walk out of the West Wing to speak to members of the media outside of the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, ... more Photo: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press Photo: Andrew Harnik / Associated Press Image 1 of / 27 Caption Close Reports of damning Mueller findings prompt people to consider possibility of 'President Pelosi' 1 / 27 Back to Gallery

In the run-up to the 2018 midterm elections, many Republicans tried to get out the vote by warning of a phrase they thought would strike fear (or at least intense distaste) in the hearts of party voters: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi."

"Nancy Pelosi will become speaker and you will not recognize America," cautioned former San Francisco first lady Kimberly Guilfoyle in one such statement intended to fuel Republican voter turnout.

MORE: If true, BuzzFeed story is most damning one yet for Trump

Now, of course, that's already come to pass. On Friday, with reports of damning findings in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation first published by BuzzFeed News, people are raising a possibility even more upsetting to many Republicans: President Nancy Pelosi.

Click through the gallery above for reactions from social media

The thinking is that the investigation could cause the political downfall and impeachment of both President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. As Speaker of the House, Pelosi is next in line for the presidency after Pence.

The BuzzFeed report alleges Mueller has discovered Trump instructed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about negotiations to build a property in Moscow. Trump has said Cohen is lying to "reduce his jail time," although Cohen is not the source cited in the BuzzFeed story. It cites two anonymous law enforcement sources.

ALSO: Pelosi cancels Afghanistan trip, cites Trump 'leak'

Following the bombshell report, some congressional Democrats began alluding to getting the ball rolling on impeachment before the final Mueller report is issued, a marked shift.

The hashtag "#PresidentPelosi" started trending on Twitter Friday morning.

Many people expressed delight imagining Trump's outrage at the hashtag.

Others pointed out the fact that Republican control of the Senate made Trump and Pence's removal from office unlikely.

"The Senate holds the trial. The GOP controlled senate. Have a nice day," tweeted @DocVoliday.

Still, others referenced Trump's decision to withhold military travel from a congressional delegation that included Pelosi on a planned trip to Afghanistan and Brussels. He announced the decision shortly after Pelosi disinvited Trump from delivering the State of the Union address for the duration of the government shutdown.

"I think Speaker Pelosi should just wait a few weeks and travel to Afghanistan in her new plane" tweeted Doug Snider, accompanied by a photo of Air Force One.

Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter