House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused President Trump of knowing “little” about prayer and faith.
The California Democrat returned fire after Trump took veiled shots at her and Republican Utah Sen. Mitt Romney at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.
“I don’t like people who use their faith as justification for doing what they know is wrong,” Trump said in reference to Romney’s justification to vote for his conviction. “Nor do I like people who say, ‘I pray for you,’ when they know that that’s not so.”
Pelosi shot back at the president in a news conference later in the day, saying his comments were “without class” and accused him of being irreligious.
“I pray hard for him, because he’s so off the track of our Constitution, our values, our country,” she said, while also classifying the presidency as a “heavy responsibility.”
Pelosi expressed particular frustration with Trump’s comments directed toward Romney.
“I thought what he said about — what he said about Senator Romney was particularly without class,” she stated before reiterating Trump’s critique of those who he believes justify wrong actions with their faith. The speaker said she thought it was more fitting to discuss education, religious freedom, or abortion, rather than Trump’s celebration of his recent impeachment acquittal.
“He’s talking about things that he knows little about: faith and prayer,” Pelosi said.
