Lawmaker says he urged Pelosi to auction ripped up speech for charity

Rep. Billy Long (R-Mo.) said he urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to auction off the copy of President Trump’s State of the Union speech she ripped up at the end of his address. 

“I went up to @SpeakerPelosi as she was showing off her ripped up speech to the gallery and I said you should auction that off for charity. She said no I’m keeping it for prosperity. I said no auction it for charity,” Long tweeted.

Long added that he would auction to charity the tie he was wearing at the address, which Trump signed.

I went up to @SpeakerPelosi as she was showing off her ripped up speech to the gallery and I said you should auction that off for charity. She said no I’m keeping it for prosperity. I said no auction it for charity. That’s what I’m doing w/the tie @realDonaldTrump signed tonight

— Billy Long (@auctnr1) February 5, 2020

Pelosi raised eyebrows when she was seen tearing up her copy of Trump’s prepared remarks at the conclusion of his State of the Union address.

Asked later why she tore the speech up, Pelosi told reporters it was “the courteous thing to do given the alternative.”

Pelosi and Trump are known to have an acrimonious relationship. The two are not believed to have met since an infamous conference at the White House in October when Pelosi cut the meeting short after Democrats say the president insulted her.

Pelosi appeared to avoid looking at Trump throughout his address, instead looking over his prepared remarks and looking at her members in the House chamber.