Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Faces Backlash Over Remarks on Biden’s Use of Term ‘Illegal’
In a recent interview on CNN, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi faced criticism for her comments regarding President Biden’s use of the term “illegal” during his State of the Union address. Pelosi insisted that Biden “should have said undocumented” when referring to Laken Riley’s alleged killer. The president had mistakenly referred to the slain nursing student as “Lincoln Riley,” causing confusion and drawing attention to his choice of words.
During the interview, CNN anchor Dana Bash played a clip of Biden’s remarks on immigration, specifically highlighting the moment when he used the term “illegal.” Pelosi, instead of addressing the crime itself, focused on the language used by the president. She stated, “Now he should have said undocumented, but that’s not a big thing, OK? What’s the big thing?” Pelosi emphasized that the focus should be on expressing sympathy for the family and acknowledging the tragedy.
Pelosi’s comments received backlash from social media users who felt that she was prioritizing semantics over the shocking crime committed. Critics accused her of being more concerned about Biden’s language than the death of Laken Riley. One viewer expressed their disgust, stating, “Nancy Pelosi checks Joe Biden for referring to Laken Riley’s killer as an illegal.” Another commenter called Pelosi a “MONSTER!!!!” for her response.
Pelosi’s concerns were shared by Mitch Landrieu, the national co-chair of the Biden re-election campaign. Landrieu acknowledged that Biden should have used a different word and emphasized that the president always expresses empathy and kindness towards people. He pointed out that Biden has experienced personal loss and understands the pain of losing loved ones.
However, Pelosi and Landrieu’s concerns were overshadowed by the responses from other Democratic lawmakers. Representative Ilhan Omar tweeted, “Let me be clear: No human being is illegal.” Representative Chuy García expressed disappointment in Biden’s use of the term “illegal” as a proud immigrant himself. Progressive Representative Joaquin Castro accused Biden of using “incendiary and wrong” language, comparing it to former President Donald Trump’s rhetoric.
Despite the criticism, Senator Laphonza Butler defended Biden on CNN, arguing that Republican lawmakers were trying to provoke a response from him. Butler acknowledged that Biden’s use of the term “illegal” was unfortunate but believed it did not reflect his true feelings towards immigrants seeking a better life in the country.
When asked about any regrets regarding his use of the term “illegal,” Biden struggled to find the right words, stating, “Well, I probably – I don’t regret – technically he’s not supposed to be here.” This response further fueled the debate surrounding immigration and the language used to describe individuals who enter the country without proper documentation.
It is worth noting that hours before Biden’s State of the Union address, the House passed a bill known as the Laken Riley Act. The bill aims to require federal authorities to detain any migrant charged with burglary or theft.
In conclusion, Nancy Pelosi’s remarks on President Biden’s use of the term “illegal” have ignited a debate on immigration language and its implications. While some Democratic lawmakers criticized Biden’s choice of words, others defended him against accusations of echoing Trump’s rhetoric. The focus on semantics rather than the tragic crime itself has drawn backlash from social media users. The incident highlights the ongoing discussion surrounding immigration policies and how language impacts public perception.
