Pete Buttigieg Melts Down Over ‘Douche Democrat’ Padilla Getting Handcuffed [WATCH]

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg publicly criticized the arrest of Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla on Thursday, following an incident in which Padilla was detained after disrupting a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference led by Secretary Kristi Noem.

The incident occurred during a scheduled DHS press briefing where Sen. Padilla, D-Calif., entered the area without formal identification, raised his voice, and interrupted Secretary Noem before being confronted by security.

Footage of the event shows Padilla resisting orders before being pushed to the ground and handcuffed by federal law enforcement.

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Buttigieg reacted to the arrest with a video posted to Instagram, expressing shock and disapproval.

“I just saw something that made my stomach turn. Something I didn’t think that I would see, even under this administration,” Buttigieg said.

“A United States senator pushed to the ground and handcuffed after asking questions of a federal government official.”

In his statement, Buttigieg accused the Trump administration of violating core American principles.

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“Well, first of all, we name what just happened, which is that the Trump government has crossed one of the reddest of red lines that can exist in a free society,” he continued.

“Any salute to the flag or talk of patriotism or American greatness is completely hollow. If you do not respect the freedoms that that flag represents, the Constitution that directs the course of this country, and they’ve shown what they think of those freedoms in that Constitution.”

He then called on Congress to respond and implied Republican members would have to make a choice.

“Much will depend on the courage of members of the Senate and the House, especially Republicans,” Buttigieg said.

“This kind of thing is designed to make them more afraid. Our job as American citizens is to make sure that they realize they have more politically to lose by riding the tiger of this out-of-control administration, which will sooner or later eat them too, than going along with it.”

While Buttigieg’s post quickly gained traction on social media, others pointed out that Padilla’s behavior posed a potential security risk, especially given recent threats against federal officials and President Donald Trump.

Fox News host Greg Gutfeld responded to the incident during a Thursday night segment, saying Padilla’s actions were not as innocent as Buttigieg portrayed.

“So this douche thinks he can plow in after his party spent, I don’t know, how many years demonizing Trump and, by extension, supporters and his cabinet? You don’t know what security is gonna do,” Gutfeld said.

“He was lucky he wasn’t flattened. If they’d acted differently, who knows what would have happened?”

The concern over potential threats has heightened in recent months. In July 2024, 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on President Trump during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

Though Trump survived, the attempt resulted in multiple injuries and a fatality.

Then, in September 2024, federal agents apprehended 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh near Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Routh was reportedly carrying an “AK-47 style rifle with a scope” when Secret Service agents spotted him concealed in bushes outside the facility.

Security protocols around senior federal officials have since been significantly increased, especially at high-profile public events.

Officials defending the Padilla arrest cited recent threats and emphasized that all individuals—regardless of position—are required to follow security procedures.

As of Thursday evening, the DHS had not released an official statement on Padilla’s arrest.

Padilla’s office also declined to comment on whether the senator had coordinated with event organizers before entering the secure press area.

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