Nancy Pelosi, 84, winces as she’s helped to her seat in Congress after hip replacement and ditches heels

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi was warmly welcomed to the House of Representatives on Friday for the first time since hip replacement surgery.

The 84-year-old California Democrat was spotted walking into the House chamber with the help of two aides holding her arms.

She received applause from Democratic lawmakers as she made her entrance, with some representatives coming forward to greet their former leader.

Her return to the halls of Congress comes just weeks after she underwent surgery following a fall during a bipartisan congressional trip to Europe.

Pelosi opted to wear flats instead of stilettos — a change from the heels she often wore before the surgery.

As Pelosi walked slowly around the chamber, she smiled, shook hands and posed for photos, but she winced and visibly limped as she walked around the chamber saying hello to lawmakers and their families.

The former speaker fell on a marble staircase in Luxembourg and was rushed to hospital on Friday, December 13.

Her spokesperson revealed in a statement that weekend that she was then taken to Germany and underwent successful hip replacement surgery.

It was not clear at the time when she would be able to make the trip home to the US from Europe.

She was still recovering as lawmakers wrapped up their final activities before heading home for the holidays.

But on Friday, she made her way through the nation’s Capitol for the start of the new 119th Congress, where lawmakers voted for the next speaker.

Republicans have one of the smallest majorities in the House of Representatives in US history, so Democrats could have influence as long as they all show up and stick together.

It was unclear Friday whether Johnson would have enough support from the Republican Party to return as chairman, as every Democrat, including Pelosi, is expected to vote for Hakeem Jeffries as their next leader.

Johnson could only afford to lose one Republican vote and still be reelected as chairman.

Pelosi was all smiles on Friday but was accompanied by aides as she arrived in the House chamber

Pelosi greets lawmakers as they arrive at the House of Representatives for the new 119th Congress on Friday

Pelosi previewed her return to Washington from surgery Thursday with a post at X as she traveled back east from California.

‘Hi, I’m Nancy. I am on my way to Washington to proudly represent the people of San Francisco in Congress,” Pelosi told the camera while on a plane.

She said in the video that she is honored to return to “share our San Francisco values.” Thank you for giving me that honor.”

Before Congress returned, the California Democrat largely stayed out of the public eye as she recovered.

Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi posted a video saying she was heading back to Washington, D.C. for the new Congress that begins Friday after undergoing hip replacement surgery following a fall in Europe last month

Once, Pelosi called for a television interview to remember the late President Jimmy Carter after he died over the holidays.

At Christmas, she also released a video message on social media thanking people for their prayers and well wishes.

“Now more than ever, I am determined that health care is available to all Americans,” she said directly into the camera.

After her fall in Europe, an image of Pelosi went viral online, showing her standing minutes after the fall.

In it, she can be seen smiling as she stood in the front row of the group of lawmakers in a pair of stilettos, but she appeared to have a death grip on her colleague’s hand.

Pelosi introduced herself on December 13 before being rushed to the hospital. Here she is seen grabbing the hand of Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) after falling in Luxembourg

Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) noted that former Speaker Pelosi wore “very high” heels when she fell in Europe last month. He said she was ‘doing well’ despite the surgery

That colleague, Congressman Mike McCaul (R-Texas), told reporters in Washington days later that he believed her skyrocketing recoveries were to blame.

He remembered that she was standing on the last step of a marble staircase without a handrail when she lost her balance and fell down. He said he helped her up and then they took the photo before she was taken to the hospital.

The former speaker traded in the stilettos she wears when she drives and trades in Washington for more reliable footwear in the new year.