Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi ripped up her copy of Donald Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday, in a pointed political gesture after listening tight-lipped to the president tout his achievements in office.
Upon arrival, Mr Trump broke with custom by not shaking hands with Ms Pelosi, the Speaker of the House, who oversaw his impeachment last month.
Seated behind the president, Ms Pelosi frowned and smiled disbelievingly at his claims until he finished speaking - at which point she rose and very visibly tore up the papers in front of her.
Asked by a reporter to give a reason for her gesture, Ms Pelosi replied: "Because it was the courteous thing to do, considering the alternatives."
Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi extends a hand to US president Donald Trump. Source: AFP
Earlier, Ms Pelosi had avoided using the customary description of "high privilege and distinct honour" that usually accompanies her introduction of the president to Congress.
"Members of Congress, the President of the United States" was all she said in introducing President Trump.
And in a follow-up tweet, Ms Pelosi said Democrats would "never stop extending the hand of friendship to get the job done."
Mr Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House six weeks ago, and the flashpoint with Ms Pelosi comes one day before the US Senate is all but certain to vote to acquit him on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of justice.
During the impeachment crisis, Mr Trump has repeatedly assailed the speaker for her impeachment "hoax," branding her "nervous Nancy" and "crazy Nancy" on Twitter.
Ms Pelosi's gesture capped a night where the country's bitter political divide was on full display, as Ms Trump's address earned a triumphant reception from the Republican half of Congress - but sullen silence, boos and jeers from the Democrats present.
President Donald Trump is applauded at the end of his State of the Union address. Source: AAP
Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Senate, said that the speech was "more like a Trump rally than a speech a true leader would give".
"It was demagogic, undignified, highly partisan and in too many places, untruthful," he said.
Tim Murtaugh, the communications director for Mr Trump's re-election team, slammed Ms Pelosi's actions.
"She might as well rip up any plans for attracting independent voters. Pelosi and the Democrats sat on their hands through all of the good news for Americans in that speech. It's a sad place to be when good news for America is bad news for Democrats."
The White House also accused Ms Pelosi of disrespecting Mr Trump's guests of honour by ripping up the speech.
"Speaker Pelosi just ripped up: One of our last surviving Tuskegee Airmen. The survival of a child born at 21 weeks. The mourning families of Rocky Jones and Kayla Mueller. A service member's reunion with his family. That's her legacy," the White House tweeted.
