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. Senator Padilla starts tearing up when retelling his altercation with law enforcement last week during a press briefing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem“I pray you never have a moment like this.”@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/SK1vVsiyLQ— Lorenzo Prieto (@LorenzoPrieto) June 17, 2025 “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.” In response to last week's altercation, Senator Padilla asked his colleagues in the Senate to "imagine" what the Trump administration could do to others in closed rooms.@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/VszQVglnKC— Lorenzo Prieto (@LorenzoPrieto) June 17, 2025 “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.” Sen. Padilla claimed @POTUS Trump used the L.A. riots as an excuse to shift media attention from negative polls.A recent @NapolitanNews poll found a majority of respondents (51%) strongly/somewhat approve of the job Trump is doing.@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/tIS4bj9Boc— Lorenzo Prieto (@LorenzoPrieto) June 17, 2025 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.” Sen. Padilla claimed @POTUS Trump used the L.A. riots as an excuse to shift media attention from negative polls.A recent @NapolitanNews poll found a majority of respondents (51%) strongly/somewhat approve of the job Trump is doing.@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/tIS4bj9Boc— Lorenzo Prieto (@LorenzoPrieto) June 17, 2025 “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!” Sen. Padilla claimed @POTUS Trump justified his "authoritarian power grab" to crack down on the "peaceful protests.""What a weekend!"@DailySignal pic.twitter.com/q56Sy4s1Ns— Lorenzo Prieto (@LorenzoPrieto) June 17, 2025 The post Five Key Moments From Sen. Padilla’s Speech About His Confrontation With Kristi Noem appeared first on The Daily Signal.