AUSTIN, Texas – Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, suggested that “30 percent” of Republican voters will never vote for Democrats because of their racism, sexism and homophobia.
Speaking at the Texas Tribune Festival 2024 on Saturday, podcast host Kara Swisher asked Pelosi why the presidential race between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Trump is so close.
“There are people who will never, let’s say, be inclined to support Democrats because they have a different orientation toward women, people of color, LGBTQ, you know, they’re never going to be there,” Pelosi said. “So let’s say that’s about 30 percent or something like that … of Republicans.”
“And then there are very, very wealthy people who don’t really want to pay taxes or have any regulation on air quality, water quality, etc. So you have to deal with that. Sure, there aren’t that many very, very wealthy people, but that’s a lot of money going into a campaign.”
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Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, told the audience at the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival that “30 percent” of Republicans have a “different orientation” toward women, people of color and the LGBTQ community. (Joseph A. Wulfsohn/Fox News Digital)
“But that’s where I think we need to be as respectful and understanding as possible,” she continued. “There are people who are worried. They’re afraid of globalization. They’ve seen the factory next door move overseas. They’re afraid of innovation. Their dad’s a truck driver, and now they’re going to have cars…”
“A self-driving truck,” Swisher interjected.
“Yes,” Pelosi replied. “And so innovation, globalization, and that includes immigration… So, you can understand that these people are worried about their future, but also the future of their children.”
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Pelosi later told Swisher that she believed Trump had as much support as he did because he was a good “snake oil salesman.”
Pelosi said former President Trump enjoys strong support from the electorate because he is a good “snake oil salesman.” (Joseph A. Wulfsohn/Fox News Digital)
Pelosi’s comments are similar to Hillary Clinton’s infamous “basket of deplorables” comment during the 2016 election about Trump supporters.
“You can put half of Trump’s supporters in what I call a basket of deplorables,” Clinton said at a campaign event. “They’re racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic, Islamophobic, you name it. And unfortunately, there are people like that and he’s brought them to the forefront.”
During the same conversation, Pelosi suggested that Trump would not attend the ABC News presidential debate on Tuesday.
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Then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton called Trump supporters a “basket of deplorables,” which many believe led to her defeat in the 2016 election. (JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images)
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When asked what advice she would give Trump for the debate, Pelosi joked: “Do you think he’s going to run?”
“Do you know something I don’t know?” Swisher asked after predicting Trump would attend the debate.
“I know cowardice when I see it,” Pelosi responded.
