Padilla reacts to Vance’s ‘Jose’ comment: ‘He knows my name’

Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif) expressed his discontent with Vice President Vance on Saturday after the VP referred to him by the wrong name during a press event in Los Angeles the previous night.

The vice president mistakenly called Padilla “California Senator Jose,” following a disruption at last week’s Department of Homeland Security press conference, which seemed aimed at creating a spectacle amid unrest tied to immigration enforcement actions.

“He knows my name. He knows my name,” Padilla remarked during his appearance. He further stated, “Sadly, it’s just an indicator of how little and unsafe this administration is. He’s the US vice president, and I think he should take the situation in Los Angeles more seriously.”

Following Vance’s comments, several Democrats rallied to support Padilla, criticizing their leaders for misidentifying him, noting that he and Vance had previously served together in the Senate.

A representative for Vance did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the incident.

However, Padilla emphasized that his focus was not on the mix-up but rather on the safety of immigrant communities in California. “You know, I think it’ll take him a little while to speak with some of his affected, terrified family members,” he said.

In the aftermath of the attacks and arrests, protests emerged in response to the Trump administration’s actions against undocumented immigrants in Los Angeles.

President Trump deployed state National Guard troops and Marines to manage the violent demonstrations. Yet, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) contested this move, labeling it unjust and suing the president to prevent the deployment without prior consultation.

This week, a judge sided with Trump, affirming the president’s authority to send National Guard forces as he deemed necessary.

“Many of the Marines themselves don’t want to be there, so that’s why they didn’t enlist,” Padilla noted on Saturday.

Lawmakers suggested that instead of engaging with law enforcement in Los Angeles, Vance should concentrate on aiding the state in addressing recent natural disasters and the needs of immigrant families. “There’s a lot to do,” Padilla concluded. “But this is how the Vice President chooses to act, and it says a lot.”