House Speaker Nancy Pelosi earned applause from fellow Democrats in the chamber on Wednesday after calling President Donald Trump an ongoing threat to our national security whose actions gave us no choice but to move forward with impeaching him.

As she solemnly and sadly opened the House debate on two articles of impeachment, the Californian recited the Pledge of Allegiance while calling on fellow lawmakers to defend democracy for the American people.

The republic for which it stands is what we are here to talk about today. A republic, if we can keep it, she said after reciting the pledge.