Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a recent interview that most Republican lawmakers remain silent when they disagree with President Trump out of fear, arguing that his influence over the party is driven by intimidation rather than consensus.
“Hardly anybody is speaking out because everybody’s afraid,” Pelosi said during an appearance on SiriusXM’s Mornings with Zerlina. She added that there’s reason for that fear, claiming Trump has shown a pattern of ruthlessly targeting those who oppose him.
Trump’s strong grip on the GOP has been evident throughout his second term, with Republican majorities in both chambers largely aligning with his agenda. Despite initial hesitations from some lawmakers, Trump has successfully pushed major legislative initiatives, including a sweeping tax and spending bill, and helped guide key nominees through Senate confirmation.
One recent example Pelosi pointed to was Senator Thom Tillis, who faced a sharp backlash from Trump after opposing parts of the administration’s legislative package. Soon after, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection, a move that followed Trump’s public threat to back a primary challenger.
Pelosi accused congressional Republicans of allowing the legislative branch to become subservient to the executive, citing a broader pattern of silence from GOP lawmakers who she believes are afraid of personal or political retaliation. She said some worry about being targeted by what she called “fake investigations” or facing threats to their safety if they speak out.
Referencing the 2022 attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, she said such fears are not unfounded. The attacker, who was later sentenced to life and additional prison time on state and federal charges, had been influenced by conspiracy theories surrounding Pelosi and other political figures.
“Thank God my husband survived, but that’s what they’re afraid of,” Pelosi said. “They don’t want their children threatened, their families threatened, their lives in jeopardy because they speak out against him.”
She also addressed recent controversy surrounding the handling of the Epstein case. The Justice Department recently concluded that Jeffrey Epstein died by suicide and found no evidence of a “client list,” despite long-running speculation and conspiracy theories.
Trump has pushed back against calls for more transparency on the issue. House Speaker Mike Johnson appeared to briefly diverge from Trump’s stance earlier this week during a podcast interview, where he said the administration should release all information and “let the people decide.” He later walked back those remarks, saying they had been misinterpreted and affirming his alignment with Trump.
Pelosi said she was surprised by Johnson’s initial comments, given his track record of supporting the president. “He’s done everything Donald Trump has asked him to do,” she said, “to the horror of all of us who care about not only the people we serve, but the institution we serve in.”