Life is full of challenges, and Nancy Pelosi faced many. Discover key struggles and how they were overcome.
Nancy Pelosi is an American politician notable for being the 52nd Speaker of the House, serving from 2007-2011 and 2019-2023. As a Democrat, she was the first woman to hold the Speakership and lead a major party in Congress, heading House Democrats from 2003-2023. Representing California's 11th district since 1987, encompassing much of San Francisco, she holds the distinction of being the dean of California's congressional delegation.
1991: Pelosi opposes U.S. intervention in the Gulf War
In 1991, Nancy Pelosi opposed the U.S. intervention in the Gulf War, marking an early stance on foreign policy.
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2001: Beginning of CIA Misleading Congress
In 2001, Allegations arose that CIA began misleading Congress regarding interrogation techniques.
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2002: Pelosi opposes Iraq Resolution
In 2002, Nancy Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq, citing concerns about unilateral action without exhausting diplomatic remedies and respecting the UN and a multilateral approach.
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2002: Opposed the Iraq Resolution
In 2002, Nancy Pelosi opposed the Iraq Resolution authorizing President George W. Bush to use military force against Iraq.
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2002: Pelosi Briefed on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques
In 2002, as ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, Pelosi was briefed on the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques," including waterboarding, on Abu Zubaydah. Pelosi stated she was assured the methods were legal at the time.
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2003: Support of Objections Raised By Democratic Colleague Jane Harman
In early 2003, Pelosi concurred with objections raised by Democratic colleague Jane Harman in a letter to the CIA.
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2004: Democratic Party Lost Three Seats in the House Elections
In the 2004 House elections, which coincided with Bush's reelection as president, the Democratic Party lost three seats.
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2006: Republican Efforts to Taint Public Perception
Before the 2006 elections, Republicans made a concerted effort to taint public perception of Nancy Pelosi, running advertisements assailing her.
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March 13, 2007: Resolution on Iran removed from spending bill
On March 13, 2007, Nancy Pelosi removed a resolution from a military spending bill for the war in Iraq, a resolution that would have required congressional consultation and authorization before the president could use military force against Iran.
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2007: Pelosi's Office Claims Protest Against Interrogation Techniques
In 2007, Pelosi's office stated she had protested the use of controversial interrogation techniques at the time of their use.
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April 2009: Pelosi's Press Conference on Interrogation Briefings
In April 2009, Pelosi stated in a press conference that during briefings, she was not informed that waterboarding or other enhanced interrogation techniques were used, but rather that legislative counsel opinions existed for their potential use.
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June 26, 2009: Lawmakers Allege CIA Misled Congress
On June 26, 2009, Democratic lawmakers alleged that CIA Director Leon Panetta asserted the CIA misled Congress for years regarding interrogation techniques.
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2010: Republican Advertising in 2010 Cycle
During the 2010 election cycle, Republicans spent more than $65 million on ads that negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi.
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2010: Republican Party Retook the Majority
In the 2010 midterm elections, the Republican Party retook the majority, Nancy Pelosi lost the speakership, but retained her role as leader of the House Democrats and became House minority leader for a second time.
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2016: Pelosi argues against bills blocking Iran's dollar access
In 2016, Nancy Pelosi argued against two bills that would block Iran's access to the dollar and impose sanctions for its ballistic missile program, stating that the JCPOA was the best way to prevent Iran from possessing a nuclear weapon.
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2016: Pelosi speaks about possible Trump impeachment
In 2016, Pelosi spoke about Democrats possibly beginning impeachment if they won the 2018 elections.
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2016: Pelosi calls for Russia investigation due to 2016 election interference
In December 2017, Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan advocating for the continued House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
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June 9, 2017: Pelosi comments on Trump's tweets and fitness for office
On June 9, 2017, Pelosi stated that no one at the White House seemed courageous enough to tell Trump his tweets were beneath the dignity of the presidency and expressed concerns about his fitness for office.
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August 2017: Pelosi criticizes Trump's warning to North Korea
In August 2017, Nancy Pelosi criticized President Trump's warning to North Korea, calling it "recklessly belligerent" and demonstrating a "grave lack of appreciation" for the situation.
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November 2017: Pelosi calls for exhausting remedies with North Korea
In November 2017, after the Pentagon suggested a ground invasion might be necessary to destroy North Korea's nuclear weapons, Nancy Pelosi expressed concern about Pyongyang's selling nuclear technology and called for the United States to "exhaust every other remedy".
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December 2017: Pelosi advocates for continued Russia investigation
In December 2017, Nancy Pelosi wrote a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan advocating for the continued House investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, citing concerns about American democracy and national security.
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December 2017: Pelosi Opposes Trump's Tax Reform
In December 2017, Pelosi opposed the tax reform signed by Trump, calling it "probably one of the worst bills in the history of the United States of America".
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2017: Criticism of Confederate Artworks at the Capitol
In 2017, Pelosi repeatedly criticized the presence of artworks depicting Confederate figures at the United States Capitol.
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January 2018: Pelosi criticizes Trump's State of the Union Address and Russia sanctions refusal
In January 2018, Pelosi criticized Trump's State of the Union Address and questioned his refusal to implement Russian sanctions.
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January 2018: Pelosi Calls Tax Cut Benefits "Crumbs"
In January 2018, Pelosi responded to companies crediting tax cuts with wage increases and bonuses by saying the benefits workers received were "crumbs".
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February 2018: Pelosi accuses Trump of siding with Putin
In February 2018, after the release of a Republican report alleging surveillance abuses by the Justice Department, Nancy Pelosi accused President Trump of siding with Russian president Vladimir Putin at the expense of preserving intelligence sources and methods.
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May 2018: Call for Bipartisan Briefing on FBI Informant
In May 2018, Pelosi and Schumer requested a bipartisan briefing involving congressional leadership from both chambers after the White House invited only Republicans to a Department of Justice briefing about an FBI informant linked to the Trump campaign.
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May 2018: Pelosi criticizes Trump's withdrawal from Iran nuclear deal
In May 2018, after President Trump announced his intention to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal, Nancy Pelosi called the decision an abdication of American leadership and described it as "particularly senseless, disturbing & dangerous."
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June 2018: Visit to Migrant Detention Facility and Call for Nielsen's Resignation
In June 2018, Pelosi visited a federal facility detaining migrant children and called for the resignation of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
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August 2018: Call for Duncan D. Hunter's Resignation
In August 2018, Pelosi called for Duncan D. Hunter's resignation following his indictment on charges of misusing campaign funds, citing a "rampant culture of corruption among Republicans".
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2018: Pelosi Opposed Trump's Border Wall Efforts
At the start of the 116th Congress, Pelosi opposed Trump's attempts to use the 2018–2019 federal government shutdown to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, calling it a "hostage-taking".
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2018: Pelosi speaks about possible Trump impeachment
In 2018, Pelosi spoke about Democrats possibly beginning impeachment if they won the 2018 elections.
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January 25, 2019: Trump Signs Bill to Reopen Government
On January 25, 2019, Trump signed a stopgap bill to reopen the government for three weeks without border wall concessions, after Pelosi opposed his attempts to leverage the shutdown for wall funding.
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April 2019: Trump vows to defy House subpoenas
In April 2019, Trump vowed to defy "all" subpoenas from the House and to refuse to allow officials to testify before House committees.
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May 2019: Pelosi accuses Trump of obstruction of justice
In May 2019, Pelosi accused Trump of obstruction of justice after the White House intervened to halt Don McGahn from complying with a subpoena.
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June 5, 2019: Pelosi states she wants to see Trump in prison
On June 5, 2019, Pelosi said that she wanted to see Trump in prison during a meeting with senior Democrats about whether the House should launch impeachment proceeding against Trump.
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September 2019: Pelosi announces formal House impeachment inquiry against Trump
In September 2019, following revelations of the Trump-Ukraine scandal, Pelosi announced the beginning of a formal House impeachment inquiry against Trump.
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September 29, 2019: Pelosi Announces Impeachment Inquiry Against Trump
On September 29, 2019, Pelosi announced the launch of an impeachment inquiry against Trump.
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December 5, 2019: Pelosi Authorizes Drafting of Impeachment Articles
On December 5, 2019, Pelosi authorized the Judiciary Committee to begin drafting articles of impeachment against Trump, following an impeachment inquiry.
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December 2019: First Impeachment of Donald Trump
In December 2019, the House impeached President Donald Trump for the first time.
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December 18, 2019: House impeaches Trump
On December 18, 2019, the House voted to impeach Trump for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, making him the third president to be impeached.
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January 15, 2020: House transmits articles of impeachment to Senate
On January 15, 2020, the House transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Republican-controlled Senate for trial, with Pelosi naming the House managers.
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February 4, 2020: Pelosi Tears Up Trump's State of the Union Address
On February 4, 2020, at the conclusion of Trump's State of the Union address, Pelosi tore up her official copy, calling it "a such a dirty speech".
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September 2020: Pelosi Hair Salon Controversy
In early September 2020, footage emerged of Pelosi visiting a hair salon in San Francisco, violating indoor service regulations. She described it as a "setup".
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October 8, 2020: Pelosi announces legislation to allow use of 25th Amendment
On October 8, 2020, Pelosi announced legislation in the House to advance the creation of a commission to allow the use of the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from executive duties.
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2020: Pelosi prefers to defeat Trump in the 2020 election rather than impeach him
In 2020, Pelosi preferred to see Trump lose to a Democrat in the 2020 election, following which he could be prosecuted, rather than impeached.
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January 2021: Second Impeachment of Donald Trump
In January 2021, the House impeached President Donald Trump for the second time.
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April 2021: Criticism for Immigration Stance
In April 2021, House Republicans criticized Pelosi for saying that immigration under the Biden administration was "on a good path", despite high numbers of unaccompanied minors arriving at the border.
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August 5, 2022: China sanctions Pelosi
On August 5, 2022, the Chinese government sanctioned Nancy Pelosi in response to her visit to Taiwan, citing her actions as "seriously interfering in China's internal affairs, undermining China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, trampling on the one-China policy, and threatening the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait".
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October 2022: Paul Pelosi Attacked at Home
In October 2022, while Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., an intruder entered her San Francisco home demanding to know her whereabouts, and attacked her husband, Paul Pelosi, with a hammer. The assailant, David DePape, was convicted on federal and state charges and sentenced to life without parole.
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2022: Republican Advertising in 2022 Cycle
During the 2022 election cycle, Republicans ran more than $50 million in ads that negatively characterized or invoked Pelosi.
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2022: Pelosi Reelected, Democrats Lose House Majority
In 2022, Pelosi was reelected to the House, but the Democratic Party lost the House majority.
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December 2024: Pelosi Hospitalized After Hip Fracture
In December 2024, Pelosi was hospitalized after fracturing her hip while falling down stairs in high heels during an official trip to Luxembourg. She underwent hip replacement surgery on December 14 at a U.S. military hospital in Germany.
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2024: Effort to Pressure Biden to Withdraw from Presidential Race
In 2024, Pelosi played a role in pressuring President Biden to withdraw his candidacy due to concerns about his reelection prospects. She initially warned Biden, advised members to "speak their conscience", and eventually supported Kamala Harris after Biden's withdrawal.
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