Pelosi: Trump coming to Capitol Hill with ‘mission of dismantling our democracy’

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lambasted former President Trump’s slated visit to Capitol Hill on Thursday, alleging he is on a “mission of dismantling our democracy.”

“Today, the instigator of an insurrection is returning to the scene of the crime. January 6th was a crime against the Capitol, that saw Nazi and Confederate flags flying under the dome that Lincoln built,” Pelosi said in a statement shared with The Hill on Thursday.

“It was a crime against the Constitution and its peaceful transfer of power, in a desperate attempt to cling to power,” she continued. “And it was a crime against Members, heroic police officers and staff, that resulted in death, injury and trauma that endure to this day.”

Trump’s expected visit to the Capitol will mark his first since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, in which hundreds of rioters stormed the Capitol in protest of the 2020 election results and President Biden’s win.

Pelosi, a staunch critic of Trump, pointed to the former president’s dictator remarks, in which he suggested last year he would be a dictator for one day if he wins reelection.

“With his pledges to be a dictator on day one and seek revenge against his political opponents, Donald Trump comes to Capitol Hill today with the same mission of dismantling our democracy,” Pelosi said. “But make no mistake — Trump has already cemented his legacy of shame in our hallowed halls.”

Politico Playbook was the first to report Pelosi’s comments.

The former president will be in Washington for a discussion hosted by the Business Roundtable, and will meet with a group of Senate Republicans for a policy-focused conversation ahead of the November election.

He will also address the House Republican Conference to “discuss growing the House Republican majority and the 2025 legislative agenda,” a spokesperson for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) told The Hill.

Pelosi has repeatedly warned of the dangers of a second term for Trump, the GOP’s presumptive presidential nominee, after having a highly contentious relationship with the former president during her tenure as Speaker.

Under her leadership, the House voted twice to impeach Trump. She also pushed for a probe into the Jan. 6 attack, ultimately selecting the members who would serve on the committee. 

The Hill reached out to the Trump campaign for further comment.