Let’s dive into what went down during Nancy Pelosi’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—and let me tell you, it was anything but a smooth ride. The former House Speaker was in Chicago, fresh off her appearance at the Democratic National Convention, when she joined Colbert for a live taping at the Auditorium Theatre. But things took a turn when anti-Israel protesters decided to make their voices heard.
Pelosi was in the middle of discussing her book, The Art of Power, when the conversation shifted to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict and the cease-fire negotiations. That’s when a protester shouted, “Free Palestine,” challenging the U.S.’s involvement in the Middle East. The interruption was enough to send the show to a commercial break, with Colbert promising to bring the question to Pelosi when they returned.
After ad break on the live show, Stephen Colbert empowered the protesters shouting at Nancy Pelosi: “As you can see from the continuing protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people…Would you like to respond to what they’re saying?” @colbertlateshow #Colbert pic.twitter.com/9A9gf8aHnu
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) August 21, 2024
True to his word, Colbert reopened the conversation after the break. Pelosi responded to the protesters by emphasizing that “war has no role in a civilized society” and that conflict should be resolved through trust, peace, and understanding, rather than through warfare. But the interruptions didn’t stop there—another protester soon chimed in, making it clear that not everyone in the audience was satisfied with her answer.
Colbert did his best to keep things civil, asking the protesters to listen to Pelosi’s response. He explained their concerns, stating that they believe the U.S. shouldn’t be supplying arms to Israel, particularly given the situation in Gaza. Pelosi acknowledged the complexity of the issue, affirming that “Israel has a right to defend itself” while also underscoring the importance of returning hostages taken during the Hamas terror attack in October 2023.
Pelosi also touched on the long-standing debate over a two-state solution, arguing that peace in the region won’t be possible without it. She envisions both Israel as a secure, Jewish, democratic state and Palestinians having their own secure country. Despite the tension in the room, her remarks on the two-state solution drew applause from the audience.
But the interruptions persisted, prompting Colbert to ask the audience to respect his guest’s time. As the show was running out of time, Colbert politely wrapped up the conversation, inviting Pelosi to return for a more extended discussion.
Pelosi’s appearance on The Late Show was just one part of her busy schedule in Chicago. The night before, she participated in the Democratic National Convention, where she awkwardly joined in a “We love Joe” chant during President Biden’s appearance.
Behind the scenes, Pelosi has reportedly been less enthusiastic about Biden’s re-election, even threatening to publicly criticize him if he didn’t reconsider his campaign.
