Fact Check: On Thursday, July 20, 2025, Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.

Fact Check: "On Thursday, July 20, 2025, Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles."

What We Know

On July 20, 2025, during a press conference in Los Angeles held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed by federal agents. According to a statement from Padilla's office, he was present to perform Congressional oversight and attempted to ask Noem a question regarding immigration policies when he was removed from the venue. The statement detailed that Padilla was pushed to the ground and handcuffed, but was not detained afterward (Padilla's Office).

Multiple news outlets corroborated this incident, reporting that Padilla interrupted Noem's remarks, leading to his removal by security personnel. Video footage captured the moment he was forcibly taken out of the room, where he could be heard shouting, “I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary” (AP News, New York Times). Reports indicated that the incident sparked outrage among Democratic colleagues, who viewed it as an attack on democratic processes (Reuters).

Analysis

The claim that Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a press conference is substantiated by multiple credible sources. The incident was reported by major news organizations such as the Associated Press, New York Times, and Reuters, all of which provided similar accounts of the events that unfolded. The consistency across these reports lends credibility to the claim.

Padilla's own statement provides a first-hand account of the incident, asserting that he was performing his duties as a senator when he was forcibly removed. This aligns with the accounts from news outlets that noted he was attempting to engage with Noem on immigration issues, which have been a contentious topic in California (Padilla's Office, AP News).

While the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a statement claiming that Padilla did not identify himself and that he was acting inappropriately, video evidence contradicts this assertion, showing Padilla clearly stating his identity as a senator (New York Times). The DHS's characterization of Padilla's actions as "disrespectful political theater" appears to be an attempt to downplay the incident and shift blame onto Padilla (Reuters).

Conclusion

The claim that Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a news conference held by Secretary Kristi Noem is True. The incident is well-documented through multiple reliable sources, including firsthand accounts from Padilla and video evidence. The actions taken against him during the press conference raise significant concerns regarding the treatment of elected officials and the implications for democratic oversight.

Sources

1. Statement on Sen. Padilla's Forcible Removal from DHS Press Conference in Los Angeles
2. Sen. Alex Padilla forcibly removed from Kristi Noem's press conference
3. Senator Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed and Handcuffed
4. Democratic US Senator Padilla forced to ground, handcuffed during Noem press conference
5. Sen. Alex Padilla forcibly removed from Kristi Noem's press conference (Video)
6. FULL VIDEO: U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla forcefully removed from Noem's press conference
7. Sen. Alex Padilla forcibly removed, handcuffed after interrupting Noem
8. Sen. Alex Padilla forcibly removed from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference