An intruder who broke into the home of Nancy Pelosi and her husband was searching for the US House Speaker.
The attacker is thought to have broken into the couple’s San Francisco home via the back door just after 2am on Friday, armed with a hammer.
He then attacked Mr Pelosi, 82, with the hammer after shouting “Where is Nancy? Where is Nancy?”, according to NBC News.
Mr Pelosi, who owns a San Francisco-based real estate and venture capital firm, was taken to hospital, where he is “receiving excellent medical care and is expected to make a full recovery”, spokesman Drew Hammill said.
Mrs Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the US House of Representatives, and second-in-line to the presidency, was in Washington DC at the time, having recently returned from a security summit in Europe.
Had she been at home, her security detail would have been present but Mr Pelosi is not eligible for this protection on his own.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement: “What happened to Paul Pelosi was a dastardly act.
“I spoke with Speaker Pelosi earlier this morning and conveyed my deepest concern and heartfelt wishes to her husband and their family, and I wish him a speedy recovery.”
The White House said in a statement: “The president is praying for Paul Pelosi and for Speaker Pelosi’s whole family.
“This morning he called Speaker Pelosi to express his support after this horrible attack.
“He is also very glad that a full recovery is expected.”
It comes amid growing concern about the safety of America’s politicians almost two years after the Capitol insurrection in January 2021.
Last year, Capitol Police investigated around 9,600 threats made against members of Congress.