House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tore a copy of President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech in half Tuesday shortly after he concluded his address in the House chamber.
As is custom, Trump had given Pelosi, D-Calif., a copy of his remarks before he began the speech. But as soon as he was finished and while Republicans were cheering his remarks, she stood up behind the president and ripped the speech papers in half.
The unprecedented gesture was just one of many signs of contention between the two leaders and, more broadly, among members of both political parties.
Earlier in the evening, after Trump reached the lectern before starting his remarks, he did not shake Pelosi's outstretched hand. He went on to deliver a deeply partisan speech, prompting audible groans from Democrats in attendance at various points as Republicans often cheered loudly and chants of "four more years" rang out. At other points while Trump was speaking, Pelosi was seen shaking her head.
Trump's address comes amid his impeachment trial in the Senate, which will vote Wednesday and is widely expected to acquit the president on two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
Pelosi, leaving the House floor, said she tore up the speech "because it was the courteous thing to do, considering the alternative."
The White House responded to with scorn, claiming Pelosi was tearing up the Americans the president honored in his address.
Moments later, Pelosi tweeted in reference to the apparent handshake snub.
As tempers simmered after both leaders left the House chamber, Pelosi issued a statement elaborating on her problems with Trump's speech.
"We had been told the President would have a positive message on health care," Pelosi said in the statement. "However, President Trump's address tonight gave no comfort to the 130 million Americans with pre-existing conditions or the families struggling to afford the prescription drugs they need."
Pelosi accused Trump of not being truthful about his administration's "actions in court to destroy pre-existing condition protections," and she accused him of ignoring a bill approved by the House aimed at lowering prescription drug prices.
"The manifesto of mistruths presented in page after page of the address tonight should be a call to action for everyone who expects truth from the President and policies worthy of his office and the American people," Pelosi said.
At a Democratic caucus meeting Wednesday, multiple sources inside the room told NBC News that Pelosi called Trump's address a "disgrace" and accused him of turning the speech into a "reality show." Fellow Democrats gave her a standing ovation for her remarks.
