Long Island Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi dodged questions about Los Angeles’ violent anti-ICE riots by pretending to take a phone call in a bizarre moment that was caught on camera.
The cringeworthy encounter showed a man waiting to question Suozzi outside the US Capitol Thursday when the congressman briefly greeted the curious bystander before abruptly putting his phone to his ear.
“Sorry, hold on, I got a call coming through,” said Suozzi, who had his iMessage app still open on his phone’s home screen as he faked answering the bogus call, according to footage obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Rep. Tom Suozzi appearing to avoid questions by pretending to take a phone call. NRCCLOL: Dem Rep. Tom Suozzi pretends to take a phone call when asked about violent rioters pic.twitter.com/WA1wuMw79r
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) June 16, 2025
The lawmaker, who represents New York’s Third Congressional District, continued the ruse as the individual lobbed two questions about the days-long unrest in the City of Angels.
“Congressman, what do Democrats mean when they say the riots in LA are peaceful?” the man probed, as the wannabe moderate ignored the question and proceeded to walk away.
The individual then asked if Suozzi “considers throwing rocks at a moving car to be a peaceful act,” before the congressman turned to the camera and said, “Sorry, I’m on the phone,” the footage showed.
Suozzi appeared to have his iMessage app still open when he faked answering the bogus call. NRCC“Enjoy the fake phone call,” the questioner replied as the lawmaker scampered away, still pretending to talk to no one.
National Republican Congressional Committee spokesperson Maureen O’Toole called Suozzi a coward for the staged act.
“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,” O’Toole said in a statement, the Independent Journal Review reported.
The lawmaker evaded questions as he scampered away, still pretending to talk to no one on the phone. NRCC“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.”
Suozzi admitted to the fake phone call ploy in a statement through a spokesperson to The Post.
“This kid was hired by national Republicans to play gotcha games. Congressman Suozzi pretending to take a call was more productive than indulging in silly Washington partisan games,” said Suozzi campaign senior advisor Kim Devlin.
The congressman has remained tight-lipped after thousands of unruly protestors spent days flooding the streets of downtown Los Angeles demonstrating against the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement efforts in the city.
The unrest prompted President Trump to deploy hundreds of on-duty Marines and thousands of National Guard troops to quell the chaotic scene of rioters hurling various items at cops, looting luxury stores and setting cars ablaze.
Elected Democratic officials have either downplayed the turmoil, out-right lied about the violence or failed to condemn rioters as they blasted the president for instructing troops to contain the destructive chaos that engulfed the city for four days and nights.
A burning car during a Los Angeles protest against ICE raids. Zuma/Jonathan Alcorn / SplashNews.comUS Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa) was one of few Democrats who denounced the riots – and criticized his own political party.
“I unapologetically stand for free speech, peaceful demonstrations, and immigration—but this is not that,” Fetterman wrote on X.
“This is anarchy and true chaos. My party loses the moral high ground when we refuse to condemn setting cars on fire, destroying buildings, and assaulting law enforcement.”
