Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday defended not speaking directly to President Trump for almost a year amid the current coronavirus pandemic and wildfire crises, maintaining that she finds it “in the interest of time” to speak to intermediaries.

The president and the Speaker haven’t had an extended, face-to-face conversation since Oct. 16, 2019, during a meeting at the White House about Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria.

Join BJL status for engagements, births, deals, levayos, events & more:  bit.ly/32HUBnJ

Join an official BJL WhatsApp group for breaking news as it happens: bit.ly/34zdGuF

Trump and Pelosi haven’t even been in the same room together since February at the National Prayer Breakfast. That came two days after Trump’s State of the Union address, where he appeared to ignore Pelosi’s attempt at a handshake and she ripped up a copy of his speech afterward.

Read more at The Hill.