Pelosi Slams Wilbur Ross For "Let Them Eat Cake" Attitude - RealClearPolitics

At her weekly press conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross of having a "let them eat cake" attitude towards federal workers who are going to miss a second paycheck this Friday.

Ross told CNBC Thursday morning that federal workers who are missing their paychecks should not have to rely on charity and should be able to rely on "credit or loans" until the government shutdown is over.

"I don't know if it's a 'let them eat cake' kind of attitude, or 'call your father for money,'" Pelosi quipped.

"Let them eat cake" is a phrase commonly attributed to the executed French Queen Marie Antoinette upon learning that the peasants had no bread.

NANCY PELOSI: They have Wilbur Ross saying he doesn't understand why, when he was asked about people going to food lines and pantries and the rest, he says he doesn't understand why they have to do that. I don't know if it's a "let them eat cake" kind of attitude, or "call your father for money," or this is character building for you, it is all going to end well. Just as long as you don't get your paychecks. I don't quite understand why, as hundreds of thousands of men and women are about to miss a second paycheck tomorrow.

The president responded on Twitter minutes later, implying he was watching Pelosi's presser:

Nancy just said she “just doesn’t understand why?” Very simply, without a Wall it all doesn’t work. Our Country has a chance to greatly reduce Crime, Human Trafficking, Gangs and Drugs. Should have been done for decades. We will not Cave!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 24, 2019