Nancy Pelosi says Republicans won’t stand up to Trump as they fear retaliation: 'Everybody's afraid'

WASHINGTON, DC: House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi accused congressional Republicans of being too afraid to challenge Donald Trump, warning that the president’s influence over the GOP remains dangerously strong.

In a wide-ranging interview on SiriusXM’s 'Mornings with Zerlina' on Wednesday, July 16, Pelosi claimed that fear, both political and personal, is keeping GOP lawmakers silent even when they disagree with Trump.

Pelosi pointed to the growing power Trump wields over members of his party, saying Republicans are choosing to “cater to the executive branch” instead of upholding their legislative responsibilities.

Her comments come amid mounting concerns about Trump’s consolidation of influence during his second presidency and recent high-profile political retreats among Republicans.

Pelosi says GOP lawmakers fear Trump’s retaliation, recalls attack on husband as warning sign

“Hardly anybody is speaking out because everybody’s afraid,” Pelosi said. “And there’s real justification for fear because Trump is just ruthless in how he’s going after those who do not agree with him.”

She alleged that Republican members of Congress fear becoming the targets of “fake investigations” initiated by Trump through the Department of Justice or FBI and are worried about threats to their personal safety and families.

Citing her own experience, Pelosi recalled the 2022 attack on her husband, Paul Pelosi, in their San Francisco home by an intruder influenced by conspiracy theories.

“Thank God my husband survived, but that’s what they’re afraid of,” she said. “They don’t want their children threatened, their families threatened, their lives in jeopardy because they speak out against him.”

Thom Tillis saga proves GOP ‘afraid’ of Trump, Pelosi warns

Pelosi’s remarks followed weeks of Republican maneuvering to avoid direct confrontation with Trump.

One of the most notable recent examples involved Sen Thom Tillis (R-NC), who came under fire from Trump after criticizing the administration’s massive tax and spending package, a bill the president branded his “big, beautiful bill.”

Tillis quickly announced he would not seek re-election in 2026 after Trump threatened to endorse a primary challenger.

Pelosi condemned the dynamic, saying Republicans in Congress have abdicated their duty to act as a check on the executive branch.

“We’re not talking about any sense of decency here,” she said, expressing dismay at how few lawmakers are willing to resist Trump’s agenda or speak out publicly.

Pelosi slams Mike Johnson’s Epstein comments reversal

Pelosi also weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Trump administration’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Last week, the DOJ concluded that Epstein had no “client list” and reiterated that he died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial. Trump has repeatedly brushed off calls for further disclosures.

House Speaker Mike Johnson briefly appeared to diverge from Trump’s stance in a podcast interview Tuesday, July 15 saying, “The Trump administration should put everything out there and let the people decide.”

However, Johnson quickly walked back his statement, saying on Wednesday that his words had been “misinterpreted.”

“I’m saying the same thing the president is,” he told reporters.

Pelosi expressed disbelief at Johnson’s about-face: “[Johnson] has done everything Donald Trump has asked him to do, to the horror of all of us who care about not only the people we serve, but the institution we serve in.”