But Ms. Pelosi’s playbook for handling the president was evident back in December, when she and Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York, attended a televised Oval Office meeting with the president that went haywire. In the verbal barrage that followed, the Democrats got Mr. Trump to take ownership of any shutdown that would follow, and Ms. Pelosi snapped: “Mr. President, please don’t characterize the strength that I bring to this meeting as the leader of the House Democrats.”That round, too, went to Ms. Pelosi, according to political analysts. She stared at notes in front of her and appeared to roll her eyes and shake her head at some points. But it was the speaker’s fleeting “bless your heart” expression as Mr. Trump looks back at her — as if for approval — with the clap that had the internet buzzing.

Source: New York Times February 06, 2019 12:39 UTC