Pelosi says Republican party has been 'hijacked by a cult' and Trump will be first president to be 'impeached twice and defeated twice' if he runs in 2024
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi went after former President Donald Trump yet again - but refused to say his name - during an event with British university students in the Cambridge Union on Thursday.
She also implored Republicans to 'take back' a party she claims was 'hijacked' by Trump supporters.
During the forum Pelosi was asked about the two impeachment proceedings she initiated against Trump late in 2019 and in January 2021.
Seizing an opportunity to score a political point against the man who continues to be the most powerful force in the Republican Party, Pelosi proclaimed, 'I don't ever talk about him.'
'I reference him from time to time as ''What's-his-name,'" Pelosi said, quickly adding: 'If he wants to run again, he'll be the first president who was impeached twice and defeated twice.'
Her remarks were met with loud applause from the largely British audience.
Pelosi's comments on Trump's chances in the 2024 election earned applause from her largely British audience
When it came to impeaching Trump, Pelosi said, lawmakers 'had no choice.'
'This president had acted in a way that was in violation of the Constitution, undermined our national security and jeopardized the integrity of our elections - and that was just the first time,' she said.
Pelosi then slammed the 'cowardice' of the Senate for not voting to remove him.
At another point Pelosi went after the GOP as a whole, claiming the party is being held hostage by a 'cult'.
'I'd say to my Republican friends - and I do have some - take back your party. You're the Grand Old Party of America, you've done wonderful things for our country,' the California Democrat said.
'You're now being hijacked by a cult, that's just not good for our country.'
She declined to mention Trump by name the entire time, only calling him 'what's-his-name'
She accused those Republicans of wanting to 'suppress the vote,' adding 'that's how they would win.'
Pelosi also said the sentiments they expressed were present long before Trump.
'The former president did not invent them - many of them were there. But he galvanized them.
'That is a force that we have to deal with and we have to deal with it this Saturday as well,' she added, referencing a planned rally in support of those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 and have since been arrested.
The speaker joined the event while she was visiting England for a meeting of parliamentary leaders from G7 countries, set for Friday.
While there she also met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday.
In a statement after their meeting Pelosi praised Johnson's response to climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pelosi and her husband stand outside of 10 Downing Street as she arrives for a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson
'It was my honor to personally invite the Prime Minister to a bipartisan leadership meeting in the United States Capitol when he travels to the United States later this month,' she also said.
Throughout Trump's four years in the White House, Pelosi tangled with the president over immigration policy, infrastructure investments, the pandemic response and a wide range of other domestic and foreign issues.
She gained a reputation of being eager to skewer the hard-hitting Trump and became one of the biggest thorns in his side as she initiated not one, but two impeachment proceedings against him.
The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump both times.
The former president is already playing a role in the 2022 midterm elections for Congress by recruiting challengers to Republican lawmakers he has tangled with.
Trump has also dropped numerous hints he might seek the presidency for a third time in 2024.
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