Pro-Palestinian protesters disrupt Stephen Colbert's live interview with Nancy Pelosi

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Nancy Pelosi's appearance on 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' was unexpectedly interrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters on Tuesday, August 20. 

The former House speaker had just begun discussing her involvement in President Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the 2024 election when a woman’s voice suddenly erupted from the audience.

Stephen Colbert calmy takes control of the situation as protester disrupts Nancy Pelosi's interview

The specifics of the protester's outcry were initially unclear, but Stephen Colbert quickly took control of the situation during the live broadcast. 

He addressed the disturbance, saying, "Hold on, young lady, I can hear you," before informing his viewers, "There’s a protest going on right now. We’re actually at a commercial break, but the subject is on Israel and Palestine."

To the protesters, Colbert urged, "And if you’ll have a seat, we have to go to the commercial break. When we come back, I will ask the next question I had on that subject, if you will listen, OK?"

When the show resumed, the late-night host told Pelosi, "There is a political protester here. There is a political invention in town, you are politicians and protests are natural. People are protesting, even within the Democratic Party, there is dissension over what is the proper use of American power, especially protected power overseas, firm and soft power."

"If the goal is the peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians, what role does the United States play?" asked Colbert. 

The California lawmaker responded, "Well, let me just say this was a role that President Biden played very well. For years, he was chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was a senator a long time, vice president, and president. So his experience globally has been huge." 

Nancy Pelosi quotes John F Kennedy as she stresses 'war has no role in a civilized society'

While talking on the Israel-Hamas issue, Nancy Pelosi referenced former President John F Kennedy’s famous words, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."

She added, "That very next sentence that he says in the speech is, '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, and that is what Joe Biden is all about."

"We want the hostages freed, but we don’t want children killed in Gaza. And so we have to come up with a solution. And right now, we just got word earlier today that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire agreement. We’re hoping that Hamas will too. But it takes me to the point of saying to you: War has no role in a civilized society," stressed the Speaker Emerita. 

Colbert and Pelosi's discussion was once again interrupted by shouts of protesters, leading the lawmaker to raise her voice as she spoke. The 84-year-old said, "We have to learn more about trust and peace, and learning about each other, rather than to have conflict resolved by war."

Nancy Pelosi highlights the importance of a two-state solution as protests continue

As the protests continued, Stephen Colbert remarked, "Well, as you can see from the continued protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people." He then asked the protesters to allow Nancy Pelosi to finish, adding that they were voicing concerns over US military aid to Israel.

Pelosi reiterated, "Israel has a right to defend itself, and the hostages should be returned. But the other part of it, that has been so major for all of us for many years, is that there must be a two-state solution."

She elaborated, "You cannot have peace unless you have a two-state solution. Israel, a secure Jewish democratic state in the region, and the Palestinians having their own secure country there as well. Unless you have a two-state solution, we’ll not have a resolution of this."

As the protests resumed, Colbert asked, "Please don’t interrupt my guests," and concluded the interview, requesting Pelosi to return for another appearance. The former speaker appeared on the show to discuss the Democratic National Convention as well as her new book, "The Art of Power."

The Hollywood Reporter noted that groups of protesters were gathered outside Downtown Chicago's Auditorium Theatre, where Colbert is filming his show live amid the DNC. Variety reported that the protesters eventually dispersed on their own, and the situation was resolved peacefully.