ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, never one to mince words, delivered a scathing rebuke of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) following his disruptive outburst during DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s press briefing last week in Los Angeles. What was meant to be a high-security, serious update on anti-ICE riots spiraling out of control quickly devolved into a media circus thanks to Padilla’s reckless conduct—an incident Smith torched as both “out of control” and “embarrassing.”
During The Stephen A. Smith Show podcast, the outspoken host ripped into Padilla’s behavior with pinpoint clarity:
“You — a United States senator — couldn’t compose yourself and let the head of Homeland Security finish her thoughts before you asked a question? Couldn’t do that, huh?”
Smith questioned not only the timing of Padilla’s outburst but the senator’s judgment, given the volatile setting. With federal law enforcement strained by multiple nights of rioting, freeway blockades, and property destruction, Padilla’s stunt wasn’t just tone-deaf—it was dangerous. Video from the event shows him being forcibly removed by security after refusing to identify himself, resisting commands, and appearing to push against agents before ultimately being restrained on the ground.
Smith’s criticisms didn’t just land with viewers—they drew praise from within the federal government. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin directly responded on X, endorsing Smith’s assessment:
“Padilla tried to manufacture a viral moment, and it’s embarrassing & disrespectful.”
McLaughlin further revealed Padilla entered the invite-only press event under false pretenses, during a moment of heightened national security. She noted that DHS Secretary Noem still took the high road, offering Padilla a 15-minute conversation after the press conference—something he could have simply scheduled instead of storming the stage.
Smith didn’t stop with Padilla. He also took California Governor Gavin Newsom to task for his visible absence and failure to restore order during the chaos in Los Angeles:
Smith made the argument that Democrats, by appearing soft on immigration enforcement and public safety, are reinforcing the very issues that helped President Trump win the 2024 election. In short, Smith argued, it’s not just about policy—it’s about optics. When Democrats look weak on riots, law enforcement, and border control, it cedes ground to Trump’s law-and-order narrative.
