Lucrezia Ciotti American politics loses one of its most iconic figures: Nancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the United States House, has announced that she will not run for the 2026 midterm elections, ending a career spanning nearly forty years. The news did not go unnoticed: Donald Trump he commented on it with enthusiasm.
Nancy Pelosi's historic farewell
Pelosi, born in 1940 in Baltimore into a family deeply tied to the policy – his father Thomas D'Alesandro was a congressman and mayor of the city – has always maintained a constant and influential presence in the American political landscape, following in the footsteps of his father and his older brother, Thomas D'Alessandro III.
After almost four decades of political commitmentNancy Pelosi, the first woman to serve as Speaker of the United States House, has announced that will not run again in the 2026 midterm elections, closing a career marked by leadership and historic reforms.
In a video addressed to voters in the San Francisco district, which she has represented since 1987, the Italian-American Democrat declared: “I will not run for Congress again, with a grateful heart, I look back on the last year of service as your representative“The announcement comes after California Democrats' recent victory in a referendum on electoral district redrawing, a victory that strengthens the party in the state.
His influence has also been recognized by rivals: “It can be argued that she was the strongest Speaker in history“, said Newt Gingrich, Republican and her historic opponent, in 2021. In her message to the citizens of San Francisco, Pelosi stressed the importance of continuing to “making history, progress, leading the way and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear“, confirming that his retirement does not mark the end of his commitment to democracy.
Nancy Pelosi announces her withdrawal: Trump rejoices, harsh attack on the Speaker of the House
Pelosi has led the Democrats with determination, first as minority leader from 2002 and then as Speaker between 2007-2011 and 2019-2023. Her long leadership led to decisive reforms, from the Affordable Care Act of 2010 to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2021, considered cornerstones of American health and environmental policy.
Politics was also scene of intense public clashes, particularly with Donald Trump, with whom Pelosi clashed during her second term as Speaker, culminating in two impeachment proceedings against the president.
Nancy Pelosi's announcement that she was retiring from the United States Congress sparked immediate reactions across the American political landscape. Among the most lively was Donald Trump, who, during an interview with Fox News, called the former Speaker of the House's resignation "a great thing for America”, adding that Pelosi was “evil, corrupt and focused only on negative things for our country".
The president's words reflect the long and heated antagonism between the two leaders and underscore how Pelosi's departure marks not only the end of a historic career, but also a turning point in the political conflict between Democrats and Republicans.
Thank you, San Francisco. pic.twitter.com/OP8ubeFzR6
— Nancy Pelosi (@TeamPelosi) November 6, 2025