Someone's doctoring video of Nancy Pelosi, and Trump and his allies seem very into it


President Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are in a public spat, following Wednesday's very short infrastructure meeting that Pelosi called a Trump "temper tantrum" on Thursday and Trump insisted wasn't, asking five totally objective aides to vouch for him. Trump called Pelosi a "mess" and "crazy," saying she's "not the same person" while he's an "extremely stable genius." Pelosi responded:
But Trump's suggestion that Pelosi, 79 — six years older than himself — is getting too old for her job seems part of a larger campaign. It was a main theme Thursday night on Laura Ingraham's Fox News program and Lou Dobbs' show on Fox Business — Trump tweeted a Dobbs clip featuring selectively edited video of Pelosi, plus GOP strategist Ed Rollins saying Pelosi appears addled by age. Trump loyalist Corey Lewandowski was also on Dobbs, alluding to a different, doctored video of Pelosi spreading around the internet. Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani tweeted, then deleted, that video Thursday night, with the comment: "What is wrong with Nancy Pelosi? Her speech pattern is bizarre."
It isn't clear who originally manipulated the Pelosi video, now widely viewed and shared on social media, but The Washington Post and outside researchers determined the video was slowed to about 75 percent of its original speed, then edited so Pelosi's voice is roughly the right pitch.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The altered video's dissemination highlights the subtle way that viral misinformation could shape public perceptions in the run-up to the 2020 election," the Post warns. "Even simple, crude manipulations can be used to undermine an opponent or score political points."
Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler said Trump sharing such "obviously manipulated video" of Pelosi is "yet more evidence she really got under his skin." CNN's Don Lemon agreed. Watch below. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Giorgio Armani obituary: designer revolutionised the business of fashion
In the Spotlight ‘King Giorgio’ came from humble beginnings to become a titan of the fashion industry and redefine 20th century clothing
-
Crossword: September 13, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
Sudoku medium: September 13, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants