Pelosi: Trump rhetoric is 'further indication of his cognitive degeneration'

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calf.) said on Sunday former President Trump’s comments about a potential assailant having to “shoot through the fake news,” at a campaign rally, is “further indication of his cognitive degeneration.”

"I think that what the ex-president just said is further indication of his cognitive degeneration. You saw recently, when he was talking about electrocution or being eaten by sharks, something is very wrong there,” Pelosi said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki.”

“And indicative in it, also, is diminishing the power of the press, which is the guardian of our freedom in our country,” she continued.

Pelosi, who stepped down from leadership and now represents California in the House, was responding to Trump’s comments from a rally on Sunday, when Trump described the protective gear surrounding him on stage. The Secret Service put additional precautions in place for the former president after he was targeted in an assassination attempt this summer.

“I have a piece of glass over here, and I don't have a piece of glass there, and I have this piece of glass here,” Trump said at the rally, as the crowd laughed and he pointed to different places around him. “But all we have really over here is the fake news.”

“To get me, somebody would have to shoot through the fake news, and I don’t mind that so much,” Trump continued to laughter.

Pelosi pointed to his comments as evidence that Trump “can’t last” for another four years as president

“I think people who might thinking about voting for him have to know that he can’t last as president for four years with his brain deteriorating at the rate it is, and it is clearly evident, and they may be voting for President Vance, which would be a horrible thing for our country,” she said.

The former president’s campaign clarified Trump’s remarks afterwards, saying Trump “was brilliantly talking about the two assassination attempts on his own life, including one that came within 1/4 of an inch from killing him, something that the Media constantly talks and jokes about.”

“The President’s statement about protective glass placement has nothing to do with the Media being harmed, or anything else. It was about threats against him that were spurred on by dangerous rhetoric from Democrats,” Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said in a statement. “In fact, President Trump was stating that the Media was in danger, in that they were protecting him and, therefore, were in great danger themselves, and should have had a glass protective shield, also.”

“There can be no other interpretation of what was said. He was actually looking out for their welfare, far more than his own!” Cheung continued.

The Hill has reached out to the Trump campaign for comment on Pelosi's remarks.