In a newly released video, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi referred to former President Donald Trump as a “domestic enemy” the day after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. The footage, obtained by CBS News from HBO, shows Pelosi preparing for a press conference with her staffers on Jan. 7. In the video, Pelosi plans to publicly call for the resignation of U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund in the wake of the attack, but she also addresses Trump’s role in the incident. Pelosi states, “There is a domestic enemy in the White House,” but did not use that line when speaking to the press later that day.
On Jan. 7, after Congress certified Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election, Pelosi expressed her feelings about “being done with Donald Trump.” She stated that she felt sick about what Trump had done to the Capitol and to the country on that day, emphasizing that he needed to be held accountable for his actions. Trump has faced criticism for his role in the events of Jan. 6, including delivering a speech to his supporters prior to the attack and posting a video hours after the attack began. Special counsel Jack Smith has reindicted Trump on charges related to resisting the peaceful transfer of power on that day.
The video also shows Pelosi requesting a list of members of Trump’s Cabinet as part of her efforts to publicly call on them to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. Pelosi mentions that members want impeachment, and Trump was ultimately impeached by the House but acquitted in a Senate trial. Additional footage from the video shows Pelosi and her staff leaving the Capitol for Fort McNair, where congressional leaders regrouped during the attack. Pelosi expresses frustration that rioters were able to disrupt the certification of the vote, and questions the security planning for Jan. 6, including the delay in deploying the National Guard.
Pelosi reflects on the events of Jan. 6, expressing disappointment in the lack of accountability and preparation for the security breakdown that occurred. She acknowledges responsibility for not having security measures adequately in place and condemns the lack of accountability for what transpired. While riding in a car, Pelosi discusses her lack of support for Chief Sund but stresses that the focus should be on holding the President accountable for his actions. She later calls for Sund’s resignation and emphasizes the need for improved security measures in the future to prevent such events from occurring again.
Overall, the video footage offers a behind-the-scenes look at Pelosi’s response to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and sheds light on her efforts to address the role of President Trump in the events leading up to and during the attack. Pelosi’s strong condemnation of Trump as a “domestic enemy” underscores the gravity of the situation and the need for accountability for those involved. The video also highlights Pelosi’s frustration at the security failures that allowed the attack to take place and her determination to ensure that proper measures are taken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
