Could Nancy Pelosi become President?

DONALD Trump has repeatedly referred to his "mad theory" that his sworn enemy — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — could become president.

Trump said this could happen if the 2020 Presidential election result was delayed due to mail-in voting.

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Could Nancy Pelosi become President? 

As House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi is second in line to the presidency behind Mike Pence. 

A theory posits that Pelosi, who attempted to impeach Trump last year, would ascend to the White House if a new president has not been inaugurated by the end of Trump's term at noon on 20 January.

This is required by the 20th amendment.

However, should the election date be moved then Pelosi would not be second in line because she is herself up for election.

Therefore the next in line would be the most senior Senator, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

What does the 20th amendment to the U.S. Constitution say?

The 20th amendment of the US Constitution says the president and vice president must leave office if no successor has been chosen by the end of their term on 20 January.

Judge Andrew Napolitano, a Fox News senior legal commentator, explained: "President Trump’s term ends at precisely noon on January 20, 2021. 

“If the Electoral College has not yet named a successor, presumably either Donald Trump or Joe Biden, then whoever is the Speaker of the House would become the acting president of the United States.

"If the Democrats retain their majority in the House, and it appears likely that they will, but if they do, and if they choose Mrs Pelosi, knowing at that point that they’re choosing the president of the United States, then it would be she.

"Stated simply, whoever is the sitting speaker of the United States, would become president at noon on January 20, 2021, if the Electoral College has failed to elect someone."

What has Nancy Pelosi said about the prospect of becoming President? 

In July Pelosi has noted that she is "in line to the presidency" and that she had her "regular continuation of government briefing" detailing the process.

She said: "I say to them [the briefers], ‘This is never going to happen.’ God willing, it never will. But there is a process.

"The presidency is the presidency. It’s not geography or location."

Trump and "crazy Pelosi" have frequently clashed throughout his tenure as president.

She was a key figure in Trump's impeachment and the president has previously branded her "dumb" while condemning her actions.

What has Trump said? 

Amid a bitter battle over universal mail-in voting, Trump told the 2020 Council for National Policy that widespread vote-by-mail ballots could lead to delays of weeks, months, years or "maybe never".

He said: "And I don't know what's going to happen. You know there's a theory that if you don't have it by the end of the year, crazy Nancy Pelosi would become president. You know that right.

"Think of that. That mad theory too. You've heard that theory. Now I don't know if it's a theory or a fact but I said, that's not good."

During a 24-hour Twitter rampage in May, Trump responded to a reporter's tweet which said: "Pelosi would be third in line to serve as president if Trump, Pence become incapacitated by COVID-19."

The president replied: "Then we must be very careful. Crazy Nancy would be a total disaster, and the USA will never be a Communist Country!"

Trump also retweeted a drawing of a Democratic lynch mob, which appeared to be led by Pelosi, for his 79.7million followers to see.

The graphic was captioned "Democrats continue torching America."

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