Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is drawing attention once again—this time for a bold prediction about the future of the White House that many voters find questionable.
In a recent interview, Pelosi claimed the United States will elect its first female president “within the next generation,” despite the fact that Democratic women have repeatedly failed to defeat President Donald Trump at the ballot box.
The comments came during a sit-down with USA Today, where Pelosi was reminded that Democrats have already nominated two women for president—both of whom lost to Trump.
“I certainly hope so,” Pelosi said when asked whether a woman would become president in her lifetime.
She went on to argue that becoming Speaker of the House was harder for a woman than winning the presidency itself.
“I always thought a woman would be president of the United States long before a woman became Speaker of the House,” Pelosi said. “This place isn’t a glass ceiling—it’s a marble ceiling.”
Pelosi made history in 2007 as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House. She suggested that everyday Americans are more accepting of a female president than Washington politicians, even as election results suggest otherwise.
Still, Pelosi admitted uncertainty.
“It’s probably—maybe, maybe not—my lifetime,” she said, adding that she believes it will happen “within this next generation.”
Her prediction comes as Democrats continue to struggle nationally. In two of the last three presidential elections, the party nominated female candidates—Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Kamala Harris in 2024—both of whom were defeated by President Trump.
Harris previously made history as vice president after running alongside Joe Biden in 2020, but her later presidential campaign failed to gain enough voter support.
Pelosi’s remarks also follow her recent announcement that she will not seek reelection, ending a political career that has spanned more than four decades.
“I will not be seeking reelection to Congress,” Pelosi said in a video message earlier this month. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative.”
She closed her announcement by urging San Francisco voters to recognize their influence, saying the city has “made history” and “always led the way.”
As Pelosi prepares to step away from Congress, her latest prediction is already sparking skepticism—particularly among voters who point to recent election outcomes as proof that Democratic leadership remains disconnected from political reality.