Pelosi’s pricey refrigerator becomes symbol of disconnect during coronavirus pandemic

'Her two huge refrigerators by themselves cost more than many people make in a year,' says Intercept co-founder Glenn Greenwald

Published: April 17, 2020 9:37am

Updated: April 17, 2020 12:16pm

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is facing a barrage of backlash for showing off her pricey refrigerators on CBS's "The Late Late Show with James Corden," with critics on social media saying the display lacks sensitivity for Americans suffering financially during the coronavirus.

Pelosi, first elected to Congress in 1987, tweeted out a clip of her appearance on the show, writing, "We all have found our ways to keep our spirits up during these trying times. Mine just happens to fill up my freezer."

Glenn Greenwald, co-founder of the Intercept, reacted to the clip and argued that Pelosi is "tone-deaf."

"Her two huge refrigerators by themselves cost more than many people make in a year," Greenwald tweeted.

"It's so revealing that the politician Dems adore most is one of the richest members of Congress," he also wrote in the post. "Pelosi has been so rich for so long that she can't see how tone-deaf this is. It's her normal,"

The GOP's rapid response Director Steve Guest said: "While Nancy Pelosi sits in her ivory tower in San Francisco, eating $13 dollar a pint ice cream out of her $24,000 fridge, she is cheering on Democrats for blocking coronavirus relief aid that has so far been distributed to 1.3 million small businesses that is about to run out."

Guest was referring to Pelosi's position that she will fund the depleted Paycheck Protection Program with an additional $250 billion as long as more funding for states and hospitals is included in the legislation. 

The backlash comes amid images nationwide of Americans who lost work as a result of the coronavirus shutdown and others waiting in miles-long food bank lines. 

Former Vice President Joe Biden reacted to the clip of Pelosi with the refrigerators, saying, "You have great taste @SpeakerPelosi."

Michael Sayman of Google also responded to the video of Pelosi's refrigerators on Twitter.

"Stuff like this is going to cost us the election in November," he wrote.

 

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