Vice President JD Vance recently faced strong criticism from Democratic leaders in California after he referred to U.S. Senator Alex Padilla as “Jose” during a visit to Los Angeles. The incident happened at a time when tensions were high in the city due to ongoing immigration enforcement actions by the Trump administration. The racist remark drew immediate backlash from many, including Senator Padilla himself, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, California Governor Gavin Newsom, and Senator Adam Schiff.
Vance came to Los Angeles as the Trump administration was increasing its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids throughout the city. While speaking with reporters, he was asked about a recent event where Senator Padilla was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) news conference. A reporter mentioned a story about lawmakers being handcuffed, suggesting that the Trump administration was targeting Democrats. According to CNN, Vance said he wished “Jose Padilla” were there to ask a question, implying that Padilla’s earlier appearance was just for show.
The situation Vance referred to involved Senator Padilla attending a news conference held by Kristi Noem, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, in Los Angeles. Noem initially tried to lie about Padilla not identifying himself, but the video proved her wrong and showed Padilla being pushed to the ground and handcuffed outside the venue as he tried to speak to Secretary Noem. She paused briefly during the disturbance but then continued speaking.
Padilla faces racist remarks from Vice President
The DHS later confirmed that Noem met with Padilla for 15 minutes after the event ended. Padilla, the first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate from California, had interrupted Noem’s remarks at the Los Angeles FBI headquarters about the administration’s response to local protests against immigration enforcement. Padilla has already made it clear he thinks Trump is a tyrant, so that may be why Vance made the racist remark.
After Vance’s comments, Senator Alex Padilla responded “He knows my name. Look, sadly, it’s just an indicator of how petty and unserious this administration is. But he’s the vice president of the United States. Do you think he’d take the situation in Los Angeles more seriously?” Padilla had previously spoken about being handcuffed, saying that if a U.S. Senator could be treated that way in public, it was alarming to think how immigrants might be treated in private. He stressed the need to keep speaking out and advocating for change.
JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate.
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 20, 2025
Calling him “Jose Padilla” is not an accident. pic.twitter.com/UOgdzdKcuy
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass strongly criticized Vance, saying, “Mr. Vice President, how dare you disrespect our Senator. I guess he just looked like anybody to you. Well, he’s not just anybody to us.” She pointed out that Vance had served with Padilla in the U.S. Senate before becoming Vice President and still worked with him as the President of the Senate.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, also responded on social media, “JD Vance served with Alex Padilla in the United States Senate. Calling him “Jose Padilla” is not an accident.”
