Fact Check: DHS claims Padilla lunged at Secretary Noem, despite video evidence to the contrary.

Fact Check: "DHS claims Padilla lunged at Secretary Noem, despite video evidence to the contrary."

What We Know

On June 12, 2025, during a press conference held by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed by federal agents after attempting to ask a question. The DHS later claimed that Padilla "lunged" at Noem, which was echoed in various media reports (NPR, AP News). Video footage of the incident shows Padilla being pushed out of the room and subsequently handcuffed on the ground, where he can be heard identifying himself as a senator (NBC News, YouTube).

Padilla stated that he was present for a scheduled briefing and had attempted to ask a question during the press conference. He asserted that he was removed without any warning and did not resist law enforcement (NPR, AP News). The DHS's characterization of Padilla's actions as "disrespectful political theatre" and the claim that he lunged at Noem were made in the context of heightened tensions surrounding immigration enforcement actions (NPR, NBC News).

Analysis

The claim that Padilla "lunged" at Secretary Noem is contested by video evidence and eyewitness accounts. While the DHS and Noem's statements suggest that Padilla's actions warranted a forceful response, the footage shows him being forcibly removed while asserting his identity as a senator (AP News, SF Chronicle). This discrepancy raises questions about the reliability of the DHS's portrayal of the incident.

The sources reporting on the event vary in their framing. For instance, Media Matters criticized Fox News for repeating the DHS claim without adequately addressing the video evidence that contradicts it. Furthermore, Padilla's own statements emphasize that he was not acting aggressively but rather seeking information, which aligns with the video evidence showing him being subdued rather than initiating an attack (NPR, ABC News).

The reliability of the sources is mixed. Mainstream outlets like NPR and AP News provide a balanced account of the incident, while some conservative outlets may exhibit bias in their framing of the events. The video evidence serves as a critical piece of information that allows for independent verification of the claims made by both Padilla and the DHS.

Conclusion

The claim that DHS stated Padilla lunged at Secretary Noem is Partially True. While the DHS did make this assertion, the video evidence and Padilla's own account suggest that he was not acting aggressively and was instead attempting to ask a question. The characterization of his actions as a "lunge" appears to be an exaggeration or misrepresentation of the events as they unfolded.

Fact Check: DHS claims Padilla lunged at Secretary Noem, despite video evidence to the contrary.