California Secretary of State Alex Padilla. (Photo: Kevin Sanders for California Globe)
CA Senator Padilla Forcibly Removed, Briefly Handcuffed By Secret Service For Interrupting A DHS Press Conference In L.A.
‘Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem’
By Evan Symon, June 12, 2025 5:18 pm
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) was forcibly removed and handcuffed at a press conference for Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on Thursday after barging in and causing a disruption in attempting to question the secretary.
Almost immediately, videos were posted of his press conference crashing and tussle with law enforcement officers. And then in what appeared to be coordinated, came the public statements from Democrats across the country.
When the press conference first began, it had been Secretary Noem simply going over immigration and the ongoing anti-ICE protests and riots that have been raging in the city for the past week. However, in the middle of the conference, Padilla entered the press conference, announced himself, and proceeded to try and question Noem. Multiple members of security swiftly grabbed him and proceeded to pull him back out into the hall way. As it was a press conference, the entire incident was caught on multiple cameras and smart phones.
“I’m Senator Alex Padilla,” said the Senator as he was pushed back by security. “I have questions for the Secretary. Because the fact of the matter is that a half a dozen criminals that are-.”
From there the Senator was cut off in the hallway, and was only heard adding “Hands off!” From there he was then briefly handcuffed and detained before being led out after it was confirmed who he was. Following the confrontation, Padilla’s office released a statement, condemning his treatment.
“Senator Padilla is currently in Los Angeles exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight of the federal government’s operations in Los Angeles and across California. He was in the federal building to receive a briefing with General Guillot and was listening to Secretary Noem’s press conference. He tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information.”
Many Democratic Senators and Congressional members also expressed shock at the incident.
“It sickened my stomach — the manhandling of a United States Senator,” said Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in a short statement.
“It’s looking more and more like a fascist state out there every day,” noted Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts (D-MA). “We’re watching the end of democracy.”
“If it can happen to Alex, it can happen to any of those senators on the other side, or any member of Congress, or anybody,” added Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-CA).
In a post on X, the DHS released a statement saying that, while acknowledging Padilla is a Senator and does have some privileges, he did not have a security pin needed and was not complying with the demands from officers and members of the Secret Service. It was also revealed that Noem and Padilla spoke for 15 minutes awhile after the scuffle.
“Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem,” said the DHS. “Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands. Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately. Secretary Noem met with Senator Padilla after and held a 15 minute meeting.”
“When I leave here I’ll have a conversation with him, but I think everyone would agree that wasn’t appropriate,” said Noem herself at the press conference before meeting with Padilla.
In an interview with Fox News, Townhall reported on X:
DHS Sec Kristi Noem REFUTES Sen. Alex Padilla’s claim that he was just there to peacefully ask a question: “This man burst into the room, started lunging toward the podium, interrupting me, and elevating his voice…”
Others agreed with the DHS, saying that Padilla obviously overstepped his bounds by going into a press conference like that without proper security clearance. Many also agreed that it was more political theatre rather than any serious attempt to ask Noem formal questions.
“Without seeing that video, I’d just say: we all know what the laws of this country are and if you think you can disrupt or violate those laws and get away with it just because you’re in elected office, is ludicrous,” explained House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA).
Matt Whitlock asked the question on most people’s minds: “Confused as to why he was trying to struggle through people to get to the podium if he was just asking questions?”
Padilla’s actions were swiftly compared to previous attempts by lawmakers to use political theatre to gain attention, only for it to backfire on them. Amongst more recent incidents, this includes a 2023 incident when then-Congressman Jamaal Bowman pulled a fire alarm in the Capitol in an attempt to delay a vote on a government shutdown bill. As a result, he was censured for this and was not reelected as a result.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt posted to X:
Democrat Senator Alex Padilla should be ashamed of his childish behavior today. He crashed the middle of an official press conference being held by a cabinet secretary, recklessly lunged toward the podium where @Sec_Noemwas speaking, and then refused to leave the room and follow the directions of law enforcement officers.
DC Draino said Sen. Padilla getting violent with federal agents is what J6ers got thrown in prison for.
DC Journalist Nick Sortor asked very good questions on X:
Why did Padilla INTENTIONALLY take off his security pin before walking in the room? He KNEW this would be the reaction of Secret Service when he walked in without the pin and tried charging a protectee
This was a SETUP.
As of late afternoon on Thursday, lawmakers are still split on the incident, with Senator Padilla to make a more formal statement about the incident soon.
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Senior Senator Padilla had to be removed before sucking all the oxygen from a room full of people.
Zoe Lofgren smacking chops and bobbing that chlorine bleached, #20 cotton yarn mop head, to the rants of congressional co-conspirators.
Then there was Cory Booker. Loitering alone with a camera, at what appeared to be the same Senate Chamber door that brave Lt. Byrd gunned down unarmed veteran, Ashli Babbit.
Images etched in my mind until the next (d) party clown show.
Another capitol hill politician presuming he has far more authority to be an unmitigated ahole, thorn in the side, pain in the ass activist than his hummingbird ass can carry. There is another video where the secret service has Padilla eating carpet, and I can’t get enough of watching it. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving failure of a human being. And, what did Rep LaMonica McIver, charged with resisting and assaulting ICE personnel, do that Padilla didn’t?
This was a publicity stunt, pure and simple. Sadly, they got exactly what they wanted so that their lap dogs in the press can go on and on about “poor Senator Padilla….look how badly Trump treated him”. Unfortunately for them though, now that Israel is bombing Iran, they didn’t have as much time to keep this front and center in the news as they had wanted.
Political theater, nothing more. Padilla thought he could storm in there, yell at HHS Secretary Noem and then run to the cameras for his close up.
I bet she had no clue who he was. Secret Service did their job, they protected her. If he wanted to be treated like a Senator then he should BEHAVE as one!
If Padilla wanted to speak with her all he had to do was arrange a meeting. Instead he morphed into one of his brown shirts and he dearly paid with a face plant!
I give his performance a D-.
We the people are sick of the Marxist Dem’s theater.
This made me laugh, what a clown!!!
I too had to laugh moments ago when I saw Bass attempt to emphasize (paraphrasing) that they know who the criminals are and added, they video the police, which she then tried to patch over quickly… like democrats do.
It’s bad theatre AND bad casting. Padilla is 6’3” and over 250 lbs. Kristi Noem is 5’6”. Padilla is angrily shouting and charging the podium, and towered over the secret service agents. it took three of them to take him down. Given the atmosphere of violence in LA, the threats against public officials, and the previous assassination attempts against President Trump, Padilla is lucky he is still intact.
Padilla got the treatment he deserved….Just because he is a Senator doesn’t mean he is recognizable…And, he needs to play by the same rules we do. If he wants respect he needs to show it.
Alex appeared drunk or on drugs by his physical actions and speech! All a fake drama scene and a lousy acting!
Alex appeared drunk or on drugs by his physical actions and speech! All a fake drama scene and a lousy acting!
Padilla will be very lucky to avoid assault charges.
I’m an old bartender. I’ve watched the cops 86 people from my bar dozens and dozens of times. The only time they ever take someone to the ground like they did Padilla is when they’re fighting. The fact that Padilla ended up face down on the floor tells me the cops thought they were in a fight.
Remember, the definition of assault is “unwanted touching”.
That most people with a brain and two eyes seemed to immediately recognize this scenery-chewing theatrical performance from Alex Padilla as a publicity stunt is a WONDERFUL thing.
The guy is at least 6th runner-up for most ridiculous horse’s ass in the state. Silly man, with silly allies.
Let’s give it up for the not-so-talented California Dem-Marxist Politico Repertory Players! Encore!
Keep it up, Alex and Friends. We’re starved for comedy.
Humiliating. Pathetic.
Pathetic Padilla later got all choked up and whined that he was a victim after he had barged into the press conference, lunged at DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and then started shouting at her.
ESPN Commentator Stephen A. Smith obliterated Padilla for “Losing it” at DHS Press Conference saying “You, a United States Senator, couldn’t compose yourself and let the head of Homeland Security, finish her thoughts before you ask the question! Couldn’t do that, huh?
Padilla and his “wife” are big supporters of the leftist alphabet rainbow mafia and it makes one wonder if she is his beard?
(https://www.padilla.senate.gov/newsroom/news-coverage/la-blade-alex-padilla-wife-angela-talk-lgbtq-mental-health/)
Padilla and his “wife”…. LOL
What I want to know is can this guy get through ANYTHING without “losing it?”
But I guess he knows that if you can manage to squirt out a tear or two or manufacture a choke in your voice it’s good for the fundraising coffers.
Boo hoo hoo, send me money
I broke out laughing as Padilla was shoved out the door by Secret Service.
This is just more proof Democrats are children in adult bodies. Why do you think this state is in the decayed condition it is today? Because it has been run by children (Democrats) for decades. We need adult leadership, not these child Democrats.