Leave it to a Los Angeles politician to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance of political theater.
Last week, California’s senior U.S. Senator Alex Padilla crashed a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem where he caused a scene and became a mini martyr in the process.
Bravo, senator!
Padilla was upset over the Trump Administration’s aggressive deportation policies and recent comments made by Noem about “liberating” the city and state from its leadership. Padilla was reportedly at the same building as the press conference for a meeting with Homeland Security officials. He told CNN’s Dana Bash that he was merely trying to ask a question when he was tackled and handcuffed by security.
“What are the odds,” Padilla asked.
That’s certainly one way of looking at what happened. Video footage tells a different tale. It showed Padilla interrupting Noem by shouting and then resisting security’s efforts to bring him outside.
Considering we live in scary times (after all, two Minnesota lawmakers were shot by a psycho in an unrelated incident less than 48 hours later), security’s response seemed appropriate and quite mild.
Padilla is not a member of the media, which means the event is not for him. It’s also generally understood that interrupting a speaker does not lead to thoughtful discussion.
Padilla was basically heckling, and it didn’t help that he was aggressively pushing closer to Noem. So, her security detail did what it was hired to do: It removed a perceived threat from the room, cuffed him, identified him, and then uncuffed him once it realized Padilla wasn’t a threat.
Did anyone expect this to go any other way? Something like: Padilla, whom Noem may or may not recognize, starts shouting through her speech. Security backs off and thinks “he could be a threat, but this is also probably fine so let’s see where this goes.” Padilla’s filibuster ends. Noem says: “Wow, that’s an insightful question and I thank you so much and now I have completely changed my mind and we’re reversing the Administration’s position on illegal immigration.” The room erupts in applause. A teary-eyed Padilla and Noem hug and walk out hand in hand with a chorus trailing and serenading them to a beautiful rendition of “We are the World.”
What are the odds, indeed?
Hate them or love them, the Administration’s immigration policies are the results of an election and years of ignoring the issue. But Noem was absolutely wrong for the “liberation” talk, especially with a federalized National Guard and hundreds of deployed Marines in town. It’s irresponsible and unnecessarily provocative. But that doesn’t justify Padilla’s bad behavior.
Nonetheless, the incident produced an endless stream of bad takes. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass posted on X that the incident was “abhorrent” and “outrageous.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom, who loves attention as much as the next guy (as long as the next guy is Gov. Gavin Newsom), posted: “This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control.”
Out of control! Shock troops! Abhorrent! Two times outrageous!
You’d think Padilla had been bloodied and broken, but was he even bruised? Padilla and Noem spoke for about 15 minutes after the press conference. The injustice!
You don’t see U.S. senators treated like that very often, but that’s largely because you don’t see U.S. Senators act like that very often. Padilla got the reaction he was looking for so it’s hard to feel sorry for him.
Since the incident Padilla has been made a hero. He’s told his story in front of every camera possible. Constituents received emails from Padilla telling his brave tale. And Padilla’s office said he was only doing his job “exercising his duty to perform Congressional oversight.”
I forget what section of the Constitution calls for senators heckling Cabinet members, but I’m sure it’s in there. Padilla should also consider being at all Homeland Security meetings. Maybe trade gossip at the water cooler. Sit shotgun on Noem’s ride to the airport, join her for her next facial and hide behind her morning grapefruit ready to pop out and oversee at a moment’s notice.
If Padilla was actually serious about oversight, he would schedule a meeting with Noem (like the one he had after the incident) or with DHS officials (like the one he was set to attend in the building that day). He could call for a hearing, or write a letter, you know, normal oversight activities.
A wise Legislative chief of staff used to have a policy for meetings with activists: “You can cause a scene or have a conversation, but you can’t do both.”
Padilla made his choice… with a staff member ready to record the whole thing.
Matt Fleming is a columnist for the Southern California News Group. Follow him on X @FlemingWords