'Don't mess with me': Nancy Pelosi gives sharp response when asked if she hates Trump, calls president a 'coward'

Show Caption Hide Caption Pelosi has sharp response after a reporter asked if she hates Trump Nancy Pelosi responds angrily at a reporter during her press conference after asking her if she hates President Donald Trump.

WASHINGTON – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday delivered an unusually sharp answer to a reporter who asked if the California Democrat hated President Donald Trump.

Pelosi had just finished her weekly press conference Thursday and was walking away from the lectern when Sinclair Broadcast Group reporter James Rosen shouted the question: "Do you hate the president?"

Pelosi stopped, pointed at him and said, "I don't hate anybody. We don't hate anybody. Not anybody in the world. Don't accuse me."

Reporters frequently shout questions to Pelosi as she leaves her weekly press conference, but normally she continues to make her way back to her office. But her response Thursday appeared off-the-cuff, stunning reporters who regularly cover her weekly media availability.

Rosen said the question was in reference to remarks from Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., about Democrats pressing forward with impeachment because they didn't like Trump and had a "deep-seated hatred" of the president.

More: 'No choice but to act': House Speaker Pelosi asks chairmen to pursue articles of impeachment against President Trump

During her exchange with Rosen, Pelosi walked back to the lectern to speak into the microphone. She clarified that she thought Trump was a "coward" but did not hate him.

"I think the president is a coward when it comes to helping our kids who are afraid of gun violence," she said. "I think he is cruel when he doesn't deal with helping our dreamers. I think he's in denial about the climate crisis."

Impeachment, she said, was about the "Constitution of the United States," rather than about disagreements or dislike of the president.

🔥🔥🔥James Rosen, a reporter for Sinclair, shouted if she hates the president as Speaker Pelosi was leaving the press conference.

Pelosi pointed her finger at him and said “don’t mess with me with me when it comes to words like that”

The full exchange: @USATODAY pic.twitter.com/F1fhM50E1w — Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) December 5, 2019

"As a Catholic, I resent your using the word hate in a sentence that addresses me. I don't hate anyone," Pelosi continued, saying she prayed for the president.

"So don't mess with me when it comes to words like that," she said, as she walked away.

After Pelosi left the room, reporters noted they had never seen Pelosi so angry or come back to the podium in such a manner. Many rushed over to Rosen to ask who he was and what outlet he worked for. Rosen stood up after the back-and-forth and laughed off the tense moment, noting it was a legitimate question.

The Trump presidential campaign responded to Pelosi's remarks, calling her "unhinged" on Twitter. Trump himself called Pelosi's statement "a nervous fit."

“Nancy Pelosi just had a nervous fit. She hates that we will soon have 182 great new judges and sooo much more," the president wrote on Twitter. "Stock Market and employment records. She says she 'prays for the President.' I don’t believe her, not even close. Help the homeless in your district Nancy. USMCA?”

Nancy Pelosi is unhinged! — Team Trump (@TeamTrump) December 5, 2019

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., when asked at his press conference, if he thought Pelosi hated the president, said "I'll take the Speaker at her word."

Pelosi has previously sparred with Rosen. In a Nov. 14 press conference, she called him "Mr. Republican talking point" after he asked if Trump would be able to confront the whistleblower whose anonymous complaint helped start the impeachment inquiry.