Pro-Palestinian protesters repeatedly interrupted an interview with Nancy Pelosi as The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired live from the Democratic National Convention in Chicago Tuesday night.
The former house speaker was discussing her much-talked role in President Biden’s decision to drop out of the race last month when a protester could be heard shouting from the audience.
“For people at home who can’t tell, there’s a protest going on in the audience right now,” Colbert explained before addressing the protester directly. “Hold on, young lady. I can hear you.”
“We’re at, actually the commercial break, but the subject is on Israel and Palestine, and if you’ll have a seat, we have to go the commercial break, when we come back I’ll ask the next question I had on that subject. If you will listen, okay?”
The exchange can be seen beginning at the 3:40 mark in the video below:
Indeed after the break, Pelosi did address the war in Gaza. “We want the hostages freed, but we don’t want children killed in Gaza,” she told Colbert, before the interview was again interrupted.
“As you can see from the continuing protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people,” Colbert responded. “Because they believe that the United States… Hold on, would you like to repond to what they’re saying. They’re saying that The United States should not have any role in supplying Israel with arms to kill the people of Gaza. That’s what they’re saying.”
Pelosi’s response that peace in the region will only be attained through a two-state solution was received with a mix of cheers and continued protest. “Please don’t interrupt my guests,” Colbert asked the crowd before wrapping up the interview.
Tuesday night’s Pelosi interview isn’t the first time pro-Palestinian protesters have interrupted a late-night talk show in recent months–while taping a June appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! before she became the Democratic nominee, Kamala Harris also faced protesters in the audience. That exchange was edited out of the show when it aired.
The Late Show is broadcasting from Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre this week, marking the first time Colbert has taken the show on the road. The show is airing live after the Democratic National Convention nightly through Thursday.
