During a trip to Europe on Friday, elderly Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was hospitalized after falling down a flight of stairs and breaking her hip.
According to a report from the New York Times, the 84-year-old former House Speaker “tripped going down marble stairs at the Grand Ducal Palace and took a hard fall.”
A source close to Pelosi confirmed to the outlet that the congresswoman had fractured her hip during the fall. Doctors in Luxembourg, where the incident occurred, believe that they will only need to conduct a standard operation to repair the damage, though they are unsure whether Pelosi will want to have the surgery done in Europe or the United States.
The accident occurred while Pelosi was traveling to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. She was joined on this trip by a bipartisan Congressional delegation.
In a statement, Pelosi’s office confirmed that she had “sustained an injury during an official engagement and was admitted to the hospital for evaluation,” adding that Pelosi was “currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, Pelosi fell down the stairs just after she posed for a group photo with her fellow lawmakers and other officials who joined them on the trip. This photo was shared by the U.S. Embassy in Luxembourg in a post on social media, where the elderly congresswoman is seen wearing high heels and clutching the hand of House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX), as if she was having trouble keeping her balance — which is no surprise considering her advanced age and rumors of her drinking problem.
We welcome @nasa Bill Nelson and Members of Congress to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in Luxembourg and Belgium. The sacrifices of brave #WWII soldiers echo from the past, reminding us that each generation must continue the fight for freedom and… pic.twitter.com/ae50RVceWL
— U.S. Embassy Luxembourg (@USEmbLuxembourg) December 13, 2024
Pelosi’s office’s statement also noted that the congresswoman “regrets” not being able to continue with her trip.
“She continues to work and regrets that she is unable to attend the remainder of the CODEL engagements to honor the courage of our service members during one of the greatest acts of American heroism in our nation’s history. Speaker Emerita Pelosi conveys her thanks and praise to our veterans and gratitude to people of Luxembourg and Bastogne for their service in World War II and their role in bringing peace to Europe,” the statement read, adding that Pelosi was “personally and officially honored” to travel with the delegation — which included many people who had family members who fought in WWII.
Social media users responding to Pelosi’s fall were quick to highlight the fact that the U.S. government is largely becoming a gerontocracy — with the majority of ours leaders being very elderly and refusing to give up control to the younger generation despite repeated health-related incidents from numerous lawmakers. Users highlighted President Joe Biden’s repeated falling incidents, as well as Sen. Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) incidents, which included a fall in Congress just a few days ago.
JUST IN: Nancy Pelosi fell down a set of stairs and broke her hip in Luxembourg, according to the New York Times.
Your country is controlled by nursing home patients
The incident happened days after the elderly Mitch McConnell fell.
“Ms. Pelosi tripped going down marble stairs… pic.twitter.com/KGBFRt54y3
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 13, 2024
