Democrats attack Trump and Pelosi for comments they made defending themselves

Paul Pelosi attack highlights rising threats to lawmakers and lawmakers’ ability to perform their duties, Democratic leaders say

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talks to reporters Tuesday on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democrats have accused Pelosi of being too friendly with President Donald Trump and questioned whether he and her party have done enough to defend themselves. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Updated at 7:25 p.m.

Top Democrats are attacking President Donald Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for comments they made publicly hours apart defending themselves against charges that they didn’t support Democrats’ election tactics in congressional districts and were too closely aligned with the president.

During his daily press briefing, Trump blamed Pelosi for inaction on his administration’s border wall funding fight and suggested the Democratic leader might have her hand on the “trigger” to end it. Pelosi tweeted she has spoken about the proposed wall to Trump a couple of times and said no decision has been made.

Trump also told reporters he “would like” Pelosi to move on from the impeachment inquiry and “continue doing her job,” and argued Pelosi would have to “come work for me” because she has been “terrible to the Democrats and their voters.”

During her first appearance on Capitol Hill since a stunning impeachment announcement last week, Pelosi had been critical of her party’s behavior, saying it had “lost all self control” and calling for a “new” approach from the Democrats.

And shortly after Trump suggested at a White House ceremony he might not sign a congressional Republican spending bill, House Democrats responded with an unusual rebuke of the president.

In a joint statement, lawmakers denounced Trump’s “unprecedented attacks” on the Republican party and “inhumane words” against fellow lawmakers.

The lawmakers, who represent their parties at the House and Senate, did not specifically mention impeachment, but said the House will continue to act as a check on the presidency and reject “partisan attacks.” Democrats plan to hold a vote on impeaching Trump by month’s end.

“These comments are disgraceful,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell after

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