Former President Donald Trump condemned the attack on Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul as a “terrible thing.”
On Friday morning, an intruder broke into the Pelosis’ home and reportedly assaulted Paul Pelosi with a hammer. The attacker is in police custody, and Paul is expected to make a full recovery. Trump responded to the news of the attack in an interview with Americano Media, calling the attack a “terrible thing.”
“With Paul Pelosi, that’s a terrible thing, with all of them it’s a terrible thing,” Trump said. “Look at what’s happened to San Francisco generally. Look at what’s happening in Chicago. It was far worse than Afghanistan.”
🚨#EXCLUSIVA @LuciaCNavarro de @AmericanoMedia conversa con el expresidente Donald Trump:
“Lo que ocurrió con Paul Pelosi es horrible, pero lo que ha ocurrido en San Francisco en general lo es, mira lo que está ocurriendo en Chicago… parece una zona de guerra”: pic.twitter.com/4IcTQKROMp
— Americano Media (@AmericanoMedia) October 30, 2022
However, the former president also urged greater respect for police amid a nation-wide crime spike in major cities, arguing that such attacks are the result of not allowing police to do their jobs.
“We have to give the police back their dignity, their respect. They can solve the problem. But today if a police officer says something that’s slightly out of line it’s like the end of his life, the end of his pension, the end of his family,” Trump continued. “We can’t do that. We have to give the police back their authority and their power and their respect. Because this country is out of control.” (RELATED: McConnell Says He Is ‘Horrified And Disgusted’ Over Attack On Pelosi’s Husband)
Authorities have identified the attacker as David DePape, 42, and charged him with numerous crimes, including attempted homicide, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse. (RELATED: Without Evidence, Liberals Rush To Blame Republicans For Assault On Paul Pelosi)
Nancy Pelosi and Paul Pelosi attend the 23rd Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center on April 24, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
CNN reported that the attacker yelled, “Where is Nancy, where is Nancy?,” before attacking Paul.
“Mr. Pelosi was taken to the hospital, where he is receiving excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery,” Nancy Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill announced in a statement Friday morning. “The Speaker and her family are grateful to the first responders and medical professionals involved, and request privacy at this time.”