Outgoing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told a reporter "not to bother" her about whether she would complete her two-year term in Congress after losing the majority, the Daily Caller reported. The California Democrat will not lead her party in the House once Republicans take over in January.
Pelosi ran for reelection in November for her San Francisco district and won handily. However, the Democratic Party did not maintain control of the House, meaning Pelosi lost her high-profile position as third in line to the president.
A reporter at a news conference Thursday asked her whether she would "commit to serving" her "full two-year term for the people of San Fransico" now that her leadership role was through. Pelosi got angry and snapped back at the reporter.
REPORTER: "Will you commit to serving your full two-year term for the people of San Francisco?"
PELOSI: "What is this? Don't bother me with a question like that. Really. Really, OK? I said what I'm going to do. Those kind of questions are such a waste of my time." pic.twitter.com/sk9C43aXwp
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) December 15, 2022
"What is this? Don't bother me with a question like that," Pelosi said with a sneer.
"Really. Really, OK?" she said, looking around at the other journalists in the room, a few of whom were laughing nervously.
"I said what I'm going to do. Those kind of questions are such a waste of my time," Pelosi said.
Pelosi already said she would maintain her role as a lawmaker after announcing she was stepping down from Democratic leadership, The Hill reported. "This I will continue to do as a member of the House: speaking for the people of San Francisco, serving the great state of California and defending our Constitution," she said from the floor.
"And with great confidence in our Caucus, I will not seek reelection to Democratic leadership in the next Congress," Pelosi added. However, many have speculated that the 82-year-old wouldn't stick around without the gavel in her hand.
In the runup to November's election, Pelosi did not state she would be leaving Congress. However, some behind the scenes were already positioning themselves to succeed her regardless of when the time officially comes.
One name being bandied about was the California Democrat's daughter, Christine Pelosi. She would have the advantage of continuing the Pelosi dynasty. However, another odds-on favorite, state Sen. Scott Wiener, would represent an activist bent Democrats prefer.
As for Nancy Pelosi, she remarked that Thursday's news conference was her last time doing so in Democratic leadership. When asked about her most notable achievement, she named Obamacare.
"Nothing in any of the years that I was there compares to the Affordable Care Act," Pelosi said. She was Speaker in 2010 when then-President Barack Obama pushed his healthcare overhaul.
Pelosi was instrumental in getting the landmark legislation through, but Democrats faced intense backlash in the following midterms. Pelosi reportedly blamed it on white men who "get in a mood" when they "don't have a job."
It's unclear whether Pelosi will stay without being able to wield outsized power. However, the octogenarian does not seem like the type to quietly ride off into the sunset.