Five Key Moments From Sen. Padilla’s Speech About His Confrontation With Kristi Noem

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., delivered remarks Tuesday on the Senate floor, defending his confrontation last week with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while accusing President Donald Trump of using the LA riots as a pretext to deploy the National Guard and violate First Amendment rights.

On June 12, during a press briefing held by Noem in California, Padilla burst into the room, began shouting at Noem, ignored security officers’ directions and pushed toward the secretary. The senator was then restrained, handcuffed, and forced out of the press briefing. Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary at DHS, called Padilla’s actions “disrespectful political theater,” noting on X, “@SecretService thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately.”

Padilla’s speech addressed the incident, describing himself not as an unidentified individual yelling and moving aggressively toward a federal official, but “one senator with a question.”

Here are five key moments from Tuesday’s floor speech:

1. Padilla Started to Tear Up

While recalling his experience, Padilla started to cry, stating he was “physically and aggressively forced out of the room.” “You’ve seen the video,” Padilla said.

“I was pushed and pulled, struggled to maintain my balance. I was forced to the ground first on my knees and then flat on my chest.” He concluded his story by wishing all his colleagues, “I pray you never have a moment like this.”

2. Padilla Accused Trump of Authoritarianism

The senator continued his speech by calling his experience as a breach of his First Amendment rights, claiming, “If that is what the administration is willing to do to a United States senator for having the authority to simply ask a question, imagine what they’ll do to any American who dares to speak up.”

“If what you saw happen can happen when the cameras are on, imagine not only what can happen, but what is happening in so many places where there are no cameras.”

3. Padilla Claimed ICE is Arresting Innocent Immigrants

Padilla claimed that law and immigration enforcement are not arresting criminals but innocents, with “no prior criminal conviction,” and added that “10% of immigrants taken into ICE custody since October have no serious criminal convictions.”

4. Padilla Attacked Trump for Shifting the Media’s Narrative

Padilla claimed that Trump took advantage of the LA riots to distract the media. “Donald Trump was at the lowest point of his presidency so far. He was drowning in a week of terrible headlines.”

“His promises to end the Russia’s invasion of Ukraine were falling flat. And he’d been handed lost after loss in federal court.”

5. Padilla Referred to the Riots as “Peaceful Protests”

Towards the end of his speech, Padilla accused the president of creating a distraction to “justify his authoritarian power grab,” while people were peacefully protesting and “things began to settle.”

In an ironic tone, the senator defended the riots, saying, “What a weekend!”

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