United States House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi has hit back at a reporter who asked if she was pursuing Donald Trump because she "hates" him.
Ms Pelosi was walking away from reporters after announcing she had instructed congressional leaders to draft articles of impeachment against Donald Trump, when the question stopped her in her tracks.
A reporter asked if she was pushing ahead with the impeachment inquiry because she "hates" the US President.
"I don't hate anybody," she responded.
"I was raised in a Catholic house, we don't hate anybody. Not anybody in the world."
Nancy Pelosi responds to a question from a reporter who asked if she hated President Donald Trump. Source: AAP
The reporter followed up saying some Republicans had suggested that Democrats were pursuing impeachment proceedings because they "don't like the guy".
Ms Pelosi said while she thinks Mr Trump is a "coward" and "cruel" in his treatment of immigrants, politicians were simply doing their constitutional duty to prevent the abuse of presidential power.
"As a Catholic, I resent your using the word 'hate' in a sentence that addresses me," she said.
"I was raised in a way that is a heart full of love and always prayed for the President.
"I still pray for the President. I pray for the President all the time.
"So don't mess with me when it comes to words like that."
Mr Trump later tweeted that Ms Pelosi "just had a nervous fit."
"She says she 'prays for the President.' I don't believe her, not even close," he added.
