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Right-wing media immediately cheer Sen. Alex Padilla being thrown to the ground and handcuffed at Noem press conference

After clearly identifying himself, the California senator was pushed into a hallway, forced to the ground, and handcuffed

Written by Gideon Taaffe, Jack Wheatley, Chloe Simon & Courtney Hagle

Research contributions from Shelby Jamerson

Published

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) was forcibly removed from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem’s June 12 press conference in Los Angeles amid ongoing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests. Right-wing media immediately began to justify the incident, falsely claiming that the senator had not identified himself, misrepresenting Padilla’s behavior, and defending the actions of law enforcement.

In a video of the incident, Padilla is clearly heard identifying himself as “Sen. Alex Padilla.” According to a statement from Padilla’s office, he was “in the federal building to receive a briefing with General Guillot and was listening to Secretary Noem’s press conference.” The statement also said that “he tried to ask the Secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed.” Padilla is the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety, which has “oversight of federal agencies with citizenship, asylum, refugee, and immigration enforcement responsibilities.” 

The Department of Homeland Security released a statement claiming that Secret Service agents “thought he was an attacker,” adding: “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.”

Right-wing media immediately rushed to defend the incident by falsely claiming that Padilla never identified himself, arguing that he was “erratic” and “causing a scene,” and justifying his forced removal because “no one is above the law.”

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  • Right-wing media falsely claim that Padilla was unidentified

    • Fox anchor John Roberts suggested that law enforcement “did not know” who Padilla was and claimed that the senior senator from California “had no identification on him, which is why they probably in that instant saw him as a threat and forcibly removed him.” [Fox News, America Reports, 6/12/25] 
    • Real America’s Voice’s Mike Crispi: “CLOWNS like Senator Alex Padilla are literally trying to get arrested” by “barging into secure buildings, not going through checkpoints, not showing ID.” Crispi added, “Then [they] act outraged when this happens. It’s a scam.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25] 
    • Right-wing commentator Stephen L. Miller commented, “AKSHULLY it's perfectly okay to walk into a press conference unidentified and charge at a sitting female cabinet member.” He also posted, “A guy ranting like a lunatic, in plain clothes, comes charging into a press conference of a cabinet secretary where he's not identified or cleared and could have a weapon, and the media is going to back that horse too now, I guess.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25, 6/12/25]

  • Conservative figures suggest that Padilla “rushed the podium” and say his behavior was “aggressive” and “erratic”

    • Right-wing radio personality Bill Mitchell: “Not only did Senator Padilla violently disrupt a news conference he forcefully resisted arrest.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25]
    • GOP strategist Alex Bruesewitz claimed that Padilla “disrupted” Noem’s press conference “with erratic, aggressive behavior, appearing intoxicated and physically confronting a Secret Service agent who instructed him to stand back.” Bruesewitz referred to Padilla’s behavior as “reprehensible and unbecoming of a U.S. Senator” and argued he should be “expelled from the Senate.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25] 
    • Newsmax anchor Katrina Szish said Padilla was “causing a scene” and “making it very, very difficult for our federal government to do their job.” [Newsmax, American Agenda, 6/12/25]
    • Far-right outlet The Gateway Pundit wrote that Padilla had to be “forcibly removed” after he “rushed the podium and lunged at Kristi Noem during her presser.” Repeating the DHS statement, the article also claimed, “The Secret Service thought Padilla was an attacker. Padilla was not wearing his Senate security pin on and he did not immediately identify himself.” [The Gateway Pundit, 6/12/2025] 

  • Right-wing media justify Padilla’s removal because “no one is above the law”

    • Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson posted a video of Padilla “getting slammed to the ground and arrested” and wrote, “No one is above the law.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25]
    • TheBlaze reposted video of the incident and wrote, “NO ONE is above the law.” The post added, “Right @AlexPadilla4CA?” [Twitter/X, 6/10/25]
    • Townhall editor Matt Vespa posted: “Alex Padilla tried to screw around at a DHS presser with Kirsit Noem and got arrested, so yeah, you can get cuffed, you clowns.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25] 
    • Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk claimed that Padilla was “pushing and shoving law enforcement officers as he tries to force his way up to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.” Kirk continued, “When you disobey law enforcement, don’t be surprised if they put you on the ground and cuff you. No one is above the law!!” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25] 
    • Washington Free Beacon’s Chuck Ross: “The irony of Democrats gearing up for the ‘No Kings’ protests this weekend claiming that Alex Padilla should be treated differently than everyone else just because he’s a Senator.” [Twitter/X, 6/12/25]