Sen Alex Padilla claims incident at Kristi Noem presser was unplanned: 'Rhetoric compelled me'

California Senator Alex Padilla is defending his viral confrontation with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, insisting the June 12 incident in Los Angeles was spontaneous and unplanned.

Padilla appeared on MSNBC with hosts Eugene Daniels and Jonathan Capehart to push back on accusations that the encounter was staged. He responded by explaining that the altercation was not planned, but that Noem's “rhetoric compelled” him to interrupt her press conference.

The senator drew widespread attention after pushing past law enforcement officers and shouting, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla! I have questions for the secretary!” during the event. His recent comments came in response to criticism from Vice President JD Vance, who last week referred to him as “Jose Padilla” and dismissed the incident as “pure political theater.”

Padilla rejected the claim, saying he was carrying out congressional duties. “Part of our job is oversight and accountability — exactly what this administration does not want, and so they will try to throw any hurdle, any roadblock, to keep us from our oversight and accountability role. That’s all I was doing, right?” he said.

“That press conference, as you know, I did not barge in. I was escorted in. I did not lunge at the secretary… I had the audacity of trying to ask a question,” he continued. “I heard there was this press conference, asked to join, they opened the door for me and I sat quietly on the side until the rhetoric compelled me to speak up — not just as a senator, but as an American.”

Padilla specifically objected to Noem’s remarks about California leadership. “Just the notion that they’re suggesting that it’s their job to liberate Los Angeles from our duly elected mayor and governor. It is too much,” he added.

Padilla was forcibly removed from the press briefing, as the Secret Service thought he was an attacker. Video from the incident showed Padilla being put into handcuffs and removed from the room. When asked about the incident, Noem responded, “I don’t even know the senator. He did not request a meeting or to speak with me. So when I leave here, I will have a conversation with him and visit and find out really what his concerns are." Noem and Padilla met after the incident and exchanged contact information.