House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's spokesperson took to social media Monday to defend the lawmaker elbowing a GOP congresswoman's young daughter during a photo shoot and insisted the move was done to benefit the youngster.
Newly elected Rep. Mayra Flores on Sunday accused Pelosi, D-Calif., of pushing one of her young daughters while photographs were being taken during her swearing-in ceremony last week.
"It's sad to see 'news outlets' that know better misrepresent the Speaker's effort to ensure Rep. Flores' daughters wouldn't be hidden behind her in all of the photos of such an important moment for their family," Pelosi's deputy chief of staff, Drew Hammill, tweeted.
Hammill's post included video that, he said, showed Pelosi "graciously greeting Rep. Flores' children and telling them about the room they are in."
Flores, though, didn't see things that way Sunday when she tweeted: "I am so proud of my strong, beautiful daughter for not allowing this to faze her. She continued to smile and pose for the picture like a Queen. No child should be pushed to the side for a photo op. PERIOD!!"
The congresswoman also included video of Pelosi's push. The speaker could be seen glancing down at the girl and extending her elbow just as the child moved over.
Twitter users blasted Hammill's post.
"That's the story you're going with?" Conservitarians.com tweeted.
"This is why no one trusts anyone in DC - can't even be honest about a forearm shiver. When one tries to get someone in a picture they put their arm/🖐🏻 behind them and move them forward - we don't push them back with a forearm," Charlie Cheddahhh! tweeted.
"Hmm. Looks more to me like the little girl was unconsciously leaning, and the shove was more to get her to stand on her own two feet and not sully the personnage beside her." Sal Cambio tweeted.
"Nowhere as epic as Martin Sheen holding up a child as a shield in The Dead Zone, but still pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty, bad. There's nothing redeeming in the video, so you all might as well just try to ride out the wave of bad publicity," Stephen Perrone tweeted.
Flores became the first Hispanic woman to represent Texas in Congress by edging out Democrat Dan Sanchez in the Texas District 34 special election on June 14. The election was held to replace former Democrat Rep. Filemon Vela, who stepped down earlier this year.
© 2023 Newsmax. All rights reserved.