A regular day in Washington turned unexpectedly tense on Tuesday when Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem was rushed to the hospital.
According to officials, it was due to an allergic reaction, though thankfully, her condition now appears stable.
Officials Say She’s Alert and Recovering
The Department of Homeland Security quickly issued a statement to clarify the situation.
“Secretary Noem had an allergic reaction today.
She was transported to the hospital out of an abundance of caution.
She is alert and recovering,” said Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs.
Sources later confirmed to CNN that Noem was conscious at the hospital and speaking with members of her security detail, which was a reassuring update after the initial scare.
Noem Has Been in the Spotlight Over California Protests
The health incident comes just days after Noem made waves in Los Angeles.
She was there to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents amid a tense protest scene.
That visit led to a dramatic and now-viral moment during a press conference when California Senator Alex Padilla attempted to ask a question.
Senator Padilla Was Forcibly Removed From the Room
Things got chaotic fast. As Padilla tried to press Noem on federal actions in the state, officers stepped in and physically removed him from the room—putting him in handcuffs.
The moment stunned many and became an instant flashpoint for political debate.
Padilla, who’s represented California in the Senate since 2021, finally addressed the incident publicly on the Senate floor this Tuesday, offering a pointed message directly to Noem:
“I pray you never have a moment like this.”
Padilla Accuses Noem of Overreach and Intimidation
Padilla was clearly rattled by the experience and used his speech to send a warning to the broader public.
“If that is what the administration is willing to do to a United States senator for simply asking a question, imagine what they’ll do to any American who dares speak up,” he said.
He went on to describe how he had identified himself multiple times as a senator while being forcefully removed.
“Even as the National Guardsman and the FBI agent who escorted me stood silently, they knew exactly who I was,” he said.
Noem Accused Padilla of Seeking Attention
Noem had previously dismissed the incident as a political stunt, suggesting Padilla wanted to create a spectacle.
“It wasn’t becoming of a U.S. senator or a public official,” she said on Fox News. “Perhaps he wanted the scene.”
Trump’s G7 Visit and ICE Raids Plan Stir More Tension
Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump stirred the pot further during his brief appearance at the G7 Summit.
He told the Daily Mail that he planned to ramp up ICE raids, especially in Democrat-led “sanctuary cities.”
“I want them to focus on the cities because that’s where the people are,” Trump said, emphasizing his aim to crack down on immigration in areas run by Democrats.
Noem’s Mission to “Liberate” Los Angeles Sparks Outrage
During the same chaotic press conference in L.A., Noem had framed her presence in starkly ideological terms, stating that Trump had federalized the California National Guard and sent in Marines to “liberate” the city from what she described as failed Democratic leadership.
“We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and this mayor have placed on this country,” Noem said before Padilla’s interruption.