Nancy Pelosi has said she has not spoken to Joe Biden since intervening to stop him running for President earlier this year.
Biden, 81, had faced overwhelming pressure to pull out of the race back in July - headed up by Pelosi herself.
In a fresh interview, the former Speaker of the US House has claimed she still considers the President a friend and ally - but said a political manoeuvre was necessary as Biden's mental acuity faltered.
Pelosi, when asked by The Guardian if she had spoken to Biden since July, replied: "Not since then, no... But I'm prayerful about it."
Pelosi said a political manoeuvre was necessary as Biden's mental acuity faltered
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She continued: "I have the greatest respect for him. I think he's one of the great consequential Presidents of our country.
"I think his legacy had to be protected. I didn't see that happening in the course that it was on, the election was on.
"My call was just to say: 'Let's get on a better course.’
"He will make the decision as to what that is. And he made that decision. But I think he had some unease because we've been friends for decades.
"Elections are decisions," Pelosi said. "You decide to win."
MORE ON THE RACE TO REPLACE JOE BIDEN:
"I think his legacy had to be protected," Pelosi said of her scheme to oust Biden
REUTERS
She then claimed that she "decided a while ago that Donald Trump will never set foot in the White House again as President of the United States - or in any other capacity".
She added: "So when you make a decision, you have to make every decision in favour of winning... and the most important decision of all is the candidate."
As for that candidate, Pelosi then encouraged Democrats to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to run against Trump.
She admitted that though certain Biden allies may not forgive her for leaving him out in the cold, Pelosi claimed another Trump win would have reflected as poorly on his legacy as being forced out after one term in office.
Certain Biden allies may not forgive Pelosi for leaving him out in the cold
REUTERS
"I think [Trump is] a grotesque word," Pelosi said
GETTYThe ex-Speaker then proceeded to issue an acidic tirade against the Republican nominee - even claiming she "hardly ever says his name".
She said: "I think [Trump is] a grotesque word... You just don't like the word passing your lips. I just don't.
"I'm afraid, you know, when I grew up Catholic, as I am now, if you said a bad word, you could burn in hell if you didn't have a chance to confess. So I don't want to take any chances.
"It's up there with, like, swearing," she claimed.