Jen Psaki hosted former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on her show “The Briefing” on June 18, 2026, to discuss Trump’s obsession with former President Barack Obama, a topic that took on added weight as the Obama Presidential Center opened in Chicago that same day.
Psaki opened the conversation by noting that Trump had name-dropped Obama at a press conference earlier that day, then posed a direct question: “Why do you think President Trump is so obsessed with Barack Obama?” Pelosi’s answer was swift. “Well, I think it relates to his own failures,” she said.
The exchange centered on Trump’s recent Iran deal and his reversal of Obama’s Iran nuclear agreement. Psaki noted that the Iran nuclear deal “is one of those accomplishments that Trump, of course, ripped up. He slashed. He reversed it. He literally ripped the paper up.” She added that Trump “barely understood what was in the Iran nuclear deal to begin with” when he referenced it at the press conference.
Pelosi defended the Obama-era accord as a major diplomatic achievement, calling it “a masterpiece of diplomacy.” She emphasized the international scope of the agreement, saying, “We brought in all of the countries, the EU and all G20 countries, all over the world, including Russia and China.” She praised the deal’s ability to withstand scrutiny from multiple nations and called the multilateral effort “a virtuoso performance.”
By contrast, Pelosi was unsparing in her criticism of Trump’s newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran. She called it “a ridiculous giveaway” and “a failure,” citing provisions that she said would cost taxpayers billions. According to Pelosi, the Trump deal includes $300 billion in reconstruction funding, lifts sanctions on Iranian oil sales, and unfreezes assets in banks—yet fails to address ballistic missiles, the same criticism that had been leveled against Obama’s agreement.
Pelosi also tied the Iran situation to broader consequences. She noted that after Trump withdrew from the Obama deal and pursued military action, “we lost American lives, sadly,” and said the current situation is “costing taxpayers enormous amounts of money” while “paying individually at the pump.” She stressed that these costs have “hit home hard for people.”
The interview took place as thousands gathered in Chicago for the Obama Presidential Center opening ceremony, a moment that underscored the contrast Pelosi was drawing. The center, located on Chicago’s South Side, officially opens to the public on June 19, 2026.
Pelosi concluded by saying that Trump “just can’t face the fact that President Obama had a far superior success with all of that,” emphasizing that the international community’s willingness to unite behind Obama’s diplomatic effort was something “nothing made us” prouder of.
Sources
- Real Clear Politics — Full transcript of Pelosi’s comments on MS NOW comparing Obama’s Iran deal to Trump’s agreement, including Psaki’s questions about Trump’s Obama obsession
- MEAWW News — Reporting on Pelosi’s appearance defending Obama’s Iran nuclear deal and criticizing Trump’s new agreement, with details on the $300 billion reconstruction funding and sanctions relief provisions
- Obama Foundation — Confirmation that the Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony was held on June 18, 2026, with the museum opening to the public on June 19, 2026
- CNN, NPR, Chicago Tribune — Coverage of the Obama Presidential Center opening in Chicago on June 18, 2026
