Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic former speaker of the United States’ House of Representatives, sustained an injury while on an official visit to Luxembourg and was hospitalised, her office announced.
Pelosi, 84, was visiting Europe with a bipartisan congressional delegation to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesperson, Ian Krager, said in a statement that she is “currently receiving excellent treatment from doctors and medical professionals” and will not be able to attend the remainder of the events on her itinerary.
While Krager did not specify the nature of Pelosi’s injury, a report from news agency Associated Press, citing a source familiar with the incident stated that she tripped and fell during an event with other members of Congress. The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, was not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.
Krager added that Pelosi “looks forward to returning home to the US soon.”
Representative Michael McCaul, who was part of the delegation, shared his well wishes on social media, saying he was “praying for a speedy recovery” for Pelosi. The two were photographed holding hands during a group photo at the US Embassy in Luxembourg on Friday.
“I’m disappointed Speaker Emerita Pelosi won’t be able to join the rest of our delegation’s events this weekend, as I know how much she was looking forward to honouring our veterans,” McCaul wrote on X. “But she is strong, and I am confident she will be back on her feet in no time.”
Pelosi’s fall comes two years after her husband, Paul, was attacked with a hammer at their San Francisco home. The attacker, who was searching for Pelosi, was sentenced in October to 30 years in federal prison.
Elected in 1987, Pelosi served as House Speaker twice before stepping down from her leadership role two years ago. She remains an active member of Congress, representing her San Francisco district. Pelosi has continued her public engagements, including a recent appearance at the Kennedy Centre Honours and the swearing-in of her former House colleagues, Adam Schiff and Andy Kim, on the Senate floor earlier this week.
Her fall follows a similar incident earlier this week involving Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, 82, who tripped and fell in the Senate, spraining his wrist and cutting his face. McConnell, stepping down from his leadership post at the end of the year, missed votes on Thursday due to stiffness in his leg caused by the fall, his office reported.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
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