Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (right) rips a copy of President Donald Trump's (front) speech after he delivered the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington DC on Tuesday. Photo: AFP

The mutual disdain shown by Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Republican President Donald Trump, during the President's State of the Union address put the partisan divisions in US politics on full display for the world to see, experts told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Pelosi ripped up a copy of Trump's State of the Union address at the end of his speech, as it was being broadcast around the world on Tuesday local time. It was a "rare scene" in US politics, Diao Daming, an associate professor at Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Pelosi seemed to be responding to Trump's disrespectful behavior after he snubbed Pelosi's offer to shake hands when he came to the rostrum, Diao said. Pelosi put out her hand but Trump ignored it and turned his back on the speaker, who quickly snapped back her outstretched arm. 

Pelosi has overseen the impeachment of Trump for abuse of power. After months of impeachment hearings and debates, Trump is expected to be acquitted in a Senate vote on Wednesday local time.  

"It was the courteous thing to do, considering the alternatives," Pelosi told a reporter afterwards, AFP reported. She didn't say what alternatives she had in mind. 

The interaction between the President and House Speaker shows their partisan fight has become even more personal. This will further influence the future direction of US politics and the introduction of major legislation and policies, Diao said. 

Video showing Pelosi ripping the paper copy of Trump's speech in half went viral on China's Twitter-like Weibo Wednesday, with many comments praising Pelosi's tit-for-tat move. Some netizens wrote that the two leaders' mutual disdain for one another perfectly reflects US partisan politics.

During Trump's speech, he touted what he called the "great American comeback" and listed his achievements and economic policies. 

"We have shattered the mentality of America decline and we have rejected the downsizing of America's destiny," he said.

Diao told the Global Times that Trump's speech emphasized his achievement to win votes in the upcoming election later this year. 

Trump did not propose any creative new policies and the issues he addressed such as education reform were not controversial, Diao said. 

"This shows Trump, who is pursuing re-election, isn't likely to pursue controversial policies this year."

It was also surprising to see Trump invited Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido to sit in the gallery. Trump said Venezuela's President "Maduro's grip of tyranny will be smashed and broken."

"Trump's words show how the US grossly interferes in other countries's internal affairs. This is diplomacy filled with ideological bias," Diao said.

Trump also mentioned the trade deal signed with China when listing his economic achievements. With regards to his policies toward China, Diao said we need to wait to see his next moves, rather than listening to his words. 

According to media reports, a Gallup poll showed Trump's approval rating 49 percent on Tuesday, the highest ever.