Democratic New York Rep. Tom Suozzi appeared to fake a phone call to avoid discussing his views on the Los Angeles riots when pressed by an individual outside the U.S. Capitol on Thursday.
Suozzi, a vulnerable House Democrat who represents a Long Island district that President Donald Trump carried in November, has stayed mum on the violent unrest that engulfed downtown Los Angeles in response to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Though some congressional Democrats have denounced the violence as “outrageous” and pushed back on their colleagues’ description of the riots as “mostly peaceful,” Suozzi appeared to stage a phone call to avoid commenting on the subject.
“Sorry, hold on, I got a call coming through,” the New York Democrat told an individual mid-conversation almost immediately before the congressman was asked about the LA riots.
However, footage of the exchange obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation does not provide evidence that Suozzi received a phone call. Instead, the congressman’s iMessage app is open on his home screen as he holds his phone up to his ear.
Democratic New York Rep. Tom Suozzi holds his phone up to his ear after telling an individual he has a “call coming through.” A text conversation is open on his home screen as he appears to stage a fake phone call. (National Republican Congressional Committee, Screenshot)
“Hello,” Suozzi says as if he’s talking to someone on the phone.
“Yes,” the Long Island Democrat says a second later.
“Congressman, what do Democrats mean when they say the riots in LA are peaceful?” the individual asks while continuing to trail Suozzi.
The New York Democrat does not answer the question.
Instead, Suozzi says “hello” for a second time while keeping the phone to his ear.
“Yeah,” the New York Democrat then says.
“Nope,” Suozzi says almost immediately after that.
The individual then poses a second question to Suozzi. “Do you consider throwing rocks at a moving car to be a peaceful act?” he asks the congressman.
“Sorry — I’m on the phone,” Suozzi replies before the individual can finish his sentence.
Suozzi turns toward the individual and replies that he cannot answer the question because he’s allegedly on the phone. (NRCC; Screenshot)
Suozzi doesn’t answer the question.
“Enjoy the fake phone call,” the individual states as Suozzi walks away.
Suozzi’s refusal to answer questions about his views on the Los Angeles riots comes as congressional Democrats have struggled to speak with one voice on condemning violence that has become commonplace at anti-ICE protests.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to shrug off California rioters’ burning self-driving cars as getting caught “in the exuberance of the moment” while speaking at a press conference Wednesday. Her fellow Californian, Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters, has repeatedly asserted that “no violence” had occurred in downtown Los Angeles despite representing portions of the city where unrest has broken out.
Suozzi’s New York colleague, Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is doubling down on her abolish-ICE advocacy and suggesting that Democratic lawmakers should not be forced to condemn acts of violence erupting at protests across the country.
Suozzi has cast himself as a moderate Democrat. He is co-chair of the centrist Problem Solvers Caucus and has, at times, backed GOP-backed legislation, including voting for the repeal of California’s de facto national electric vehicle mandate and the Laken Riley Act.
House Republicans’ campaign arm, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), has named Suozzi as one of its top targets it is seeking to defeat during the 2026 midterms. The GOP group blasted the New York Democrat for dodging questions about his stance on the LA riots.
“Two-faced Tom Suozzi calls himself a ‘commonsense Democrat,’ but when asked about violent riots, he cowardly fakes a phone call instead of standing up for law and order,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Maureen O’Toole said in a statement. “It’s not just weak, it’s disgraceful. Suozzi’s refusal to condemn chaos shows he’s fully captured by the radical left.”
“He won’t be able to fake his way out of this one — his free fall back home is just getting started,” O’Toole added.
A spokesperson for Suozzi did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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