Stephen Colbert yelled at protesters who tried to disrupt his interview with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday.
Pelosi joined Colbert in the Chicago studio to discuss the Democratic National Convention. In the midst of a conversation about her alleged role in pressuring President Joe Biden to concede the nomination, a woman in the audience was heard screaming at the top of her lungs.
It is unclear what exactly the woman was saying, but she mentioned Palestine.
The interruption was loud enough to draw Colbert’s attention, who immediately stopped the interview and shifted the conversation to the US role in the war between Israel and Gaza.
“Hold on, lady, I can hear you,” he said, explaining to viewers watching the livestream that there was a protest underway. “We’re actually in a commercial break, but the topic is Israel and Palestine.”
Stephen Colbert is seen gesturing toward anti-Israel protesters who interrupted his interview with Nancy Pelosi.
He extended an olive branch to the protesters, telling them he would ask his next question about Israel policy after the commercial break.
Over the past few days, hundreds of pro-Palestine protesters have besieged the streets of downtown Chicago and the United Center, where the Democratic National Convention is taking place.
Colbert’s studio is about 3 miles from the United Center, and protesters were seen gathering outside in anticipation of Pelosi’s interview.
After the commercial break, Colbert, as promised, asked a question that directly related to the stance the United States has taken as the war in Gaza has continued since October.
‘Here’s a political protester. There’s a political convention in town, you’re a politician, and protests are natural. People are protesting, even within the Democratic Party, there’s dissent about what is the proper use of American power, especially power protected abroad, both hard power and soft power.’
“If the goal is a peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians, what role does the United States play?” Colbert asked Pelosi.
Pelosi first responded by touting Biden’s experience as a foreign policy negotiator.
Pelosi reacts to protesters’ dissatisfaction with her response by saying she couldn’t hear what they were shouting.
Hundreds of police and pro-Palestine protesters descended on Chicago as the Democratic National Convention kicked off on Monday
Dozens of police officers on bicycles can be seen preparing for the influx of protesters.
“He was for years chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was a long-time senator, vice-chairman and chairman. So his experience at the global level has been enormous.”
She then recalled going to John F. Kennedy’s inauguration as a student, where he famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
“The next line he says in his speech is, ‘To the countries of the world, ask not what America can do for you, but what we can do together for the freedom of mankind.’ And that is our mission, and that is what Joe Biden stands for,” Pelosi said.
The first time he addresses the issue directly comes later, where he says: “We want the hostages released, but we don’t want children killed in Gaza.”
He added that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire, something he hopes Hamas will also accept.
“But this brings me to the point that I have to say to you: war has no role in a civilized society,” he said.
That line drew applause from Colbert’s audience, but as soon as the applause died down, another protester began shouting, visibly shaking the longtime congresswoman.
After the final disruption by protesters near the end of the show, Colbert finally got a little harsher with them, saying, “Please don’t interrupt my guests.”
“Well, as you can see from the ongoing protests that are taking place here, that answer is not satisfying to some people,” Colbert said before turning his attention to the protesters. “Wait a minute, you want to hear their answer?”
“I can’t hear them with their screams,” Pelosi said.
Colbert did his best to refocus the interview once again.
“They are saying that the United States should have no role in supplying weapons to Israel to kill the people of Gaza,” he said.
“Israel has a right to defend itself and the hostages must be returned,” Pelosi responded. “But the other part, which has been so important to all of us for many years, is that there must be a two-state solution.”
“Peace cannot be achieved without a two-state solution: Israel, a democratic and secure Jewish state in the region, and the Palestinians, who also have their own secure country there,” he explained.
The protesters raised their voices again after she concluded, prompting Colbert to finally cut them some slack.
“Please do not interrupt my guests,” he said, pointing at the protesters.
It is unclear who was responsible for the protests, but according to Variety, the group left of their own volition and the matter was resolved peacefully.
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