VP Vance Sparks Outrage After Misnaming Senator Padilla in LA Presser
June 21, 2025
Los Angeles, CA — Vice President JD Vance ignited a political firestorm on Friday after he mistakenly referred to California Senator Alex Padilla as “Jose Padilla” during a press conference in Los Angeles — a gaffe that many Democrats quickly condemned as disrespectful and racially insensitive.
The incident occurred while Vance addressed Padilla’s absence at the event, alluding to the senator’s controversial removal from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) briefing earlier this week.
“I was hoping Jose Padilla would be here to ask a question,” Vance said. “I guess he decided not to show up because there wasn’t a theater.”
Padilla, California’s first Latino senator and a former colleague of Vance in the U.S. Senate, became the center of attention as leading Democratic voices criticized what they viewed as more than just a slip of the tongue.
Outrage from California’s Democratic Leaders
Governor Gavin Newsom took to X (formerly Twitter), asserting that the misnaming was deliberate.
“Calling him ‘Jose Padilla’ is not an accident,” Newsom posted. “If Vice President Vance wants a debate, he should do it in person — not through veiled insults at public events.”
Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles echoed these sentiments, calling out the racial implications of the vice president’s language.
“To you, he might have looked like just anybody. But to us, he is our senator,” she said. “Mr. Vice President, how dare you disrespect Alex Padilla like that? You served with him — you know who he is.”
Vance Team Responds
In an attempt to quell the controversy, Vance’s spokesperson Taylor Van Kirk issued a statement suggesting the mistake was unintentional.
“He must have confused two individuals who broke the law,” Van Kirk said without providing clarification.
Still, many remain skeptical. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) condemned the incident as a calculated diversion.
“JD Vance knows Alex Padilla well. This was a cheap shot to distract from the fear and chaos this administration is fueling,” Schiff wrote. “It’s pathetic.”
Escalating Tensions in Los Angeles
Vance’s visit came on the heels of a federal appeals court ruling allowing former President Donald Trump to retain control over the California National Guard in response to growing protests over immigration enforcement.
Both Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass have demanded the withdrawal of federal forces from Los Angeles, insisting the city is safer without outside military presence.
Meanwhile, congressional Democrats continue to raise concerns about the treatment of detained immigrants and the increasing use of force against protesters and lawmakers conducting oversight missions.