Washington : The State of the Union address featured an epic ceremonial clash on Tuesday night.

President Donald Trump appeared to ignore House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s outstretched hand at the top of his annual address. At the end of the speech, Pelosi tore up her copy of his prepared remarks.

It was unclear whether Trump intentionally rebuffed the most powerful woman in American politics or whether he simply did not see her hand. But after he finished speaking, the president left the dais without shaking the hand of the speaker, who then dramatically dispensed with the papers before her.

When asked why she destroyed her copy of the speech, Pelosi said that “it was the courteous thing to do.“

“I tore it up,“ she flatly told reporters while leaving the House chamber.

The White House responded with a terse tweet shortly after, characterizing Pelosi‘s gesture as disrespectful to the guests honored in Trump‘s address.