Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) stirred controversy Tuesday after mocking Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) during a Fox News interview, suggesting he suffers from “low T” just hours after he emotionally recounted on the Senate floor how he was pushed to the ground by federal agents.
The comments came during an appearance on Jesse Watters Primetime, where the Fox News anchor asked Luna whether it was “an attractive look” for men to cry at work, referring to Padilla’s emotional speech. “Or when men cry on national TV like Sen. Padilla,” Watters added to Politico.
“No,” Luna replied. “In fact, I think he’s suffering from low T,” she quipped, prompting laughter from Watters. Luna went on to accuse Padilla of having “lunged” at Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during a press conference last week.
The senator was forcibly removed from the event by federal agents after attempting to question Secretary Noem about immigration policies under the Trump administration. “Could you imagine if a Republican senator lunged at a female cabinet secretary and started screaming at her?” Watters asked, setting the stage for Luna’s sharp criticism.
“It would be the war on women all over again.” “Real men don’t do that,” Luna said. “And the fact that he did, I think, is telling as to who he is as an individual. I vehemently condemn what he did to Secretary Noem.”
The Florida congresswoman went on to praise Noem for her composure during the incident, claiming that she “calmed the situation” and later “separately exchanged numbers with him.” Luna, however, was quick to offer her opinion on the exchange.
“I would advise her to stay away from him,” she added. “The guy’s not a good dude.” Watters chimed in with his own dig at the California senator: “Nobody knew who he was! He’s just not that famous.” He further joked about the alleged number exchange, saying,
“She had to give him her number, she was like, ‘here’s my number, get away from me, creep.’ Ah man, poor Padilla.” The remarks have drawn criticism from some viewers and political commentators, who viewed Luna’s comments as dismissive and inappropriate.
Supporters, however, applauded her for standing by Noem and calling out what they saw as unacceptable behavior. Sen. Padilla has not yet responded publicly to the comments made by Luna or the narrative presented during the Fox News segment.