Stephen Colbert yelled at protesters on Tuesday who tried to disrupt his interview with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Pelosi joined Colbert in the Chicago studio to talk about the Democratic National Convention. During a discussion about her alleged role in pressuring President Joe Biden to surrender the nomination, a woman in the audience was heard screaming at the top of her lungs.
It is not clear what exactly the woman said, but she mentioned Palestine.
The interruption was loud enough to catch Colbert’s attention, who abruptly ended the interview and shifted the conversation to America’s role in the war between Israel and Gaza.
“Hold on, young lady, I hear you,” he said, explaining to TV viewers that a protest was taking place during the live broadcast. “We’re actually in a commercial break, but the topic is Israel and Palestine.”
Stephen Colbert is seen pointing at 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.
In recent days, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters have besieged the streets of downtown Chicago and the United Center, where the DNC is taking place.
Colbert’s studio is about 3 miles from the United Center and protesters were seen gathering outside in preparation for the interview with Pelosi.
After the commercial, Colbert, as he had promised, asked a question that directly addressed the way America is conducting itself as the war in Gaza continues since October.
“There’s a political protester here. There’s a political convention in town, you’re a politician, and protests are normal. People are protesting, even within the Democratic Party, there’s disagreement about what’s the proper use of American power, particularly protected power abroad, both firm 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 responded by first highlighting Biden’s experience as a foreign policy negotiator.
Pelosi responds to protesters’ dissatisfaction with her response by claiming she couldn’t hear what they were shouting
Hundreds of police officers and pro-Palestinian protesters descended on Chicago as the Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday
Dozens of police officers can be seen on bicycles, preparing for the influx of protesters
“For many years he was chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was a senator, vice president and president for a long time. So his experience worldwide is enormous.”
She then spoke about her attendance as a student at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration, where he spoke the famous words, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
“That next sentence he says in his speech is, ‘Ask the nations of the world not what America can do for you, but what we can do working together for the freedom of mankind.’ And that is our mission, and that is what Joe Biden stands for,” Pelosi said.
The first time she directly addresses the subject is when she says, “We want the hostages released, but we don’t want children in Gaza to be killed.”
She added that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire and she hopes Hamas will agree to it as well.
“But I come to the point where I say to you: war has no place in a civilized society,” she said.
That sentence was met with applause from the audience in Colbert, but as soon as the applause died down, another protester began shouting, which clearly unnerved the congressman.
After the final interruption by protesters at the end of the show, Colbert finally gets a little tougher on them, saying, “Please don’t bother my guests.”
After the commercial break in the live show, Stephen Colbert gave strength to the protesters shouting at Nancy Pelosi: “As you can see from the ongoing protest here, that answer is unsatisfactory for some people… Do you want to respond to what they’re saying?” @colbertlateshow #Jacket photo.twitter.com/9A9gf8aHnu
— Brent Baker
(@BrentHBaker) 
“Well, as you can see from the ongoing protest here, that answer is unsatisfactory for some people,” Colbert said before turning his attention to the protesters. “Wait a minute, would you listen to her answer?”
“I can’t hear them over their screaming,” Pelosi said.
Colbert did his best to refocus the interview.
“They say the United States should have no role in supplying weapons to Israel to kill the people of Gaza,” he said.
“Israel has the right to defend itself, and the hostages should be returned,” Pelosi responded. “But the other part of it, which has been so important to all of us for years, is that there has to be a two-state solution.”
She explained: ‘You can’t have peace unless you have a two-state solution. Israel, a safe Jewish democratic state in the region, and the Palestinians, who also have their own safe country there.’
After she finished her speech, the protesters made themselves heard again, causing Colbert to finally take a tougher stance against them.
“Please don’t disturb my guests,” he said, pointing to the protesters.
It is unclear who is responsible for the protests, but Variety reports the group left of their own accord and the matter was resolved peacefully.