Stephen Colbert Confronts ‘Late Show’ Protestors As They Disrupt Nancy Pelosi Interview: “Please Don’t Interrupt My Guests”

Pro-Palestine protesters interrupted Nancy Pelosi‘s live chat with Stephen Colbert during the Democratic National Convention last night.

Pelosi was appearing on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert to promote her new book, The Art of Power, when a protester began shouting from the audience.

Though it is difficult to make out what they were saying, Colbert addressed the protester to say, “For the people at home who can’t tell, there’s a protest going on in the audience right now. Hold on young lady, I can hear you. We’re actually at a commercial break but the subject is on Israel and Palestine, and if you’ll have a seat, we have to go to a commercial break and when we come back I will ask the next question I had on that subject, if you will listen.”

After the commercial break, Colbert asked Pelosi, “If the goal is the peaceful and prosperous future for both Israel and Palestinians, what role does the United States play?”

Pelosi quoted John F. Kennedy, “‘To the countries of the world, ask not what America can do for you, but what we can do working together for the freedom of mankind’ and that is our mission.”

She continued, “Yes, we’ve had a commitment to Israel, that’s been in our security interest to do so. Israel was attacked by a terrorist organization. We want the hostages freed, but we don’t want children killed in Gaza, so we have to come up with a solution.” Pelosi also noted that Israel agreed to a ceasefire agreement earlier that day.

The shouting from protesters continued, prompting Colbert to tell Pelosi, “As you can see from the continuing protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people.” He then asked Pelosi if she would like to “respond” to what the protesters were saying, though she said she couldn’t hear them.

“They’ve said the United States should not have any role in supplying Israel with arms to kill the people of Gaza,” Colbert clarified.

She responded, “Israel has a right to defend itself,” a point which Colbert agreed with. “But the other part of it that has been so major for all of us for so many years is that there must be a two-state solution,” she continued. “We cannot have peace unless there’s a two-state solution…. Unless you have a two state solution, we’ll not have a resolution of this.”

Her answer was met with both loud applause from the Late Show audience and continued protests from the disruptors, prompting Colbert to admonish the protesters, “Please don’t interrupt my guests.”

The Late Show is filming in Chicago this week for the Democratic National Convention, where Colbert will also be joined by Pete Buttigieg and Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez this week.

Scroll up to check out Pelosi’s interview on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert.