Former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi believes an unexpected figure might be eyeing a run for the White House in 2028: Rahm Emanuel, former Mayor of Chicago and current U.S. Ambassador to Japan.

“I think he’s going to run,” Pelosi said during an interview with The Free Press, published Friday.

Emanuel, known for his sharp political instincts and long history in Democratic politics—including serving as President Barack Obama’s first chief of staff—hasn’t confirmed any plans. However, when asked if he intends to run, he hinted at his ambitions, stating:

“I know what I want to do… We’ve got to get ready to fight for America—and that’s what I’m going to do.”

Emanuel positioned himself in the interview as an “old-school Democrat,” distancing himself from recent party debates over cultural issues.

“We can’t get distracted by the cultural issues and lose sight of what Americans care about… We can’t look weak and woke,” he said.

Though Emanuel hasn’t formally announced a campaign, his comments suggest he’s thinking seriously about the future of the Democratic Party—and possibly his own role in it.

Questions About Health and Legacy

The interview also touched on comments made by Emanuel’s brother, Dr. Zeke Emanuel, who suggested in a TV appearance that President Joe Biden had prostate cancer during his time in office—an unconfirmed claim that quickly gained attention.

Rahm Emanuel responded to the reporter’s health question with a quip:

“I don’t have prostate cancer.”

Meanwhile, Pelosi’s own political legacy remains under the spotlight. As the first female Speaker of the House and a key Democratic leader for decades, her impact is widely recognized. However, she now faces bipartisan pressure related to proposed legislation that could bear her name.

New Push to Restrict Congressional Stock Trading

The so-called PELOSI Act—formally titled Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments—seeks to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading individual stocks. The effort, led by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and supported in the House by Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO), is aimed at reducing potential conflicts of interest.

“Unfortunately, too many members of Congress are engaging in suspicious stock trades based on non-public information to enrich themselves,” Alford said.
“Members of Congress should be fighting for the people they were elected to serve—not day trading at the expense of their constituents,” Hawley added.

Although Pelosi herself has supported efforts to reform stock trading rules for lawmakers, the association with the act’s name underscores broader concerns about public trust and ethics in government.