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bigtree

(91,796 posts)
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 06:49 PM Friday

Trump: Sen Padilla "looked like an illegal."

Donald Trump is trying to justify federal agents handcuffing California Senator Alex Padilla by suggesting that he “looked like an illegal,” his leading biographer has revealed.

“Trump saw these pictures and then has been on the phone saying to people, ‘Nobody’s ever heard of this guy,’” Michael Wolff, the bestselling author, said this week on The Daily Beast Podcast. “As though that’s an excuse. And then he’s gone on to say, ‘and he looks like an illegal.’”

Wolff said that Trump excused the assault by dismissing Padilla as an immigrant nobody.

“If you are famous, that would obviously put you in a different category and ICE agents would not have tackled you,” said Wolff, explaining Trump’s rationale.

report: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-is-calling-handcuffed-senator-vile-racial-slur-author/


...Trump is spreading this trope among his followers and supporters because they are all of the same mind. Padilla, sitting U.S. Senator is still just another brown person to them who, in their eyes, is undeserving of their consideration or respect.

This senator was not only denied the attention and the legal protection against assault that his office affords him under the law, he was denied the respect that his co-equal branch of the government deserves from the office of the Executive and the people who serve under the president.

Now we can all see the anatomy of the racism which infects this Trump regime from the very top of the chain of command. Padilla didn't just occur to Trump in his explanation as just another random American. His very appearance as a brown-skinned man was enough for the President of the United States to conclude that he was likely in the country illegally, and therefore deserving of violent treatment at the hands of the law enforcement officers he oversees as the chief executive.

The consequence of a president who holds these disturbing and despicable values and beliefs is that it provides an umbrella for all of the people who would similarly deny Sen. Padilla not only his authority, but his very humanity and place in our society because of the color of his skin; because of the fault they regard in his ethnicity, and the president's acquiescence to their stereotyping with his use of racist tropes.

One thing that isn't as prominent in relating these incidents is how people of color are regarding this encouragement to judge a person by their skin tone. In a white majority society which isn't actively repressing the black minority as it did in our nation's past, tempered in its oppression by law and the defense of those laws by government, you'd think there would be more attention paid to any prospect of dividing this nation along racial lines.

Beside the absurdity for most Americans, already experienced and comfortable with an integrated society, of judging each others' worth based on the color of our skin, again, there's a real dilemma for racists who are no longer able to practice their discrimination with the impunity they enjoyed before the passage of the Civil Rights Act or the Voting Rights Act.

People of color aren't going to stand still for this abuse. We will fight for our place in this country with even more fervor than in the past, enabled by generation after generation's conviction that this country belongs to people of color, as much as it does for anyone else.

If I had my way, and could set the future, I'd bring about a nation where Sen. Padilla is recognized as an American first by his government and society, well before anyone in public service considers judging him by his skin color or ethnicity.

It's clear that we're not there, right now, with this President of the United States 'looking to me' like a racist thug.

59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Trump: Sen Padilla "looked like an illegal." (Original Post) bigtree Friday OP
And Trump looks like a convicted felon who should be in prison. Initech Friday #1
And tRump looks like a convicted pedophile and rapist who should be in prison. Trueblue1968 Friday #40
This 34x convicted sexual abuser, felon looks like a republican. Norrrm Friday #47
He looks like an evil monster. Do him up like the Silence of The Lambs guy. Trueblue1968 23 hrs ago #58
What bdamomma Friday #2
It would be nice if *rump would release the Epstein Files so that we could see who looks legal and who doesn't Uncle Joe Friday #3
Hey, Donnie, if you were a real president you'd know Senator Padilla is a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary sinkingfeeling Friday #4
Biden can probably name all 100 Senators without prompting. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Friday #31
In my head I just did 91 of them gopiscrap Friday #52
imagine the high-fives at the local gin mill stillcool Friday #5
Again, another impeachable offense BeerBarrelPolka Friday #6
WTF malaise Friday #7
Yep, every day it's another WTF. Grim Chieftain Friday #21
Voters put Trump in to punish us DSandra Friday #33
They said "He hates the same people we do. That's good enough!" . . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Friday #51
Wish I knew - I am drained malaise Friday #38
Thanks, dogs are my favorites people as the saying goes Grim Chieftain Friday #42
Everyone there knew exactly who Padilla was. Irish_Dem Friday #8
He arrived with an FBI/other LEO escort. The thugs knew he was a VIP. And the "offense" was no offense. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Friday #30
Yes everyone knew who he was. Irish_Dem Friday #34
If he had a security escort misanthrope Friday #49
Nobody expects the Krusty Gnome Inquisition! Bernardo de La Paz Friday #50
And the news media goes kacekwl Friday #9
TSF looks like a convicted felon who belongs in prison. milestogo Friday #10
anyone who says ILLEGAL as a NOUN is a RACIST PIECE OF SHIT Skittles Friday #11
Calling a person "illegal" is denying their personhood. Corporations have more rights, it seems. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Friday #29
I'll believe corporations are persons when Texas executes one. Norrrm Friday #48
KRASNOV is ignorant, but incredibly more mindbogglingly so. UTUSN Friday #12
This might be the most blatantly racist Hornedfrog2000 Friday #13
I suspected (or knew) that when Hispanics became the largest minority group in America Dan Friday #14
Can this Chicken Taco be any more obviously racist? Falconry Friday #15
Three guesses... littlemissmartypants Friday #16
The only one that looked like an illegal is Mierda47. What an @$$. n/t aggiesal Friday #17
Racist fuck. spanone Friday #18
What does an illegal look like? IronLionZion Friday #19
An illegal looks like Trump, a rapist, criminal, traitor, grifter. Irish_Dem Friday #35
Convicted felon, twice impeached, surrounded by shady criminals his whole life IronLionZion Friday #46
Trump's attempt at 'racial purity'. Aussie105 Friday #20
Trump wants to racially and culturally "purify" America... DSandra Friday #37
The master race is blonde as Hitler, slim as Guerring, tall and perfect footed as Goebbels IronLionZion Friday #55
Obviously displaying his bigotry but I don't think that was accidental moniss Friday #22
One thing for sure - it's whatever Trump thinks that counts. dchill Friday #23
Living a life of hate is incomprehensible to me. DingleBerryNW Friday #24
Donald Trump is a racist to his core. Dem4life1970 Friday #25
More Americans voted for Senator Alex Padilla SalviaBlue Friday #26
Nice statistic, thank you. Buddyzbuddy Friday #36
Trump looks like a moron Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Friday #27
He's a racist. Through and through. Central Park Five another case. His two 1980s consent decrees on housing. . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Friday #28
To Trump, all brown skinned hispanics are illegal DSandra Friday #32
"Looked like an illegal.." Says the convicted felon who looks like a pregnant goldfish wearing a pink tie. Ping Tung Friday #39
This op is helpful to me. ananda Friday #41
Love it when trump humiliates himself to the whole world... Paladin Friday #43
I wish FB47243 Friday #44
My dog heard that whistle Charmin One Friday #45
He's never heard of this sitting senator???!! Bayard Friday #53
There you have it. That's it in a nutshell ecstatic Friday #54
To native Americans, Trump looks like General Custer DFW Friday #56
Traitor looks like a Cha Yesterday #57
Tis better to LOOK like an illegal, than to have a presidential rap sheet and remove all doubts Montauk6 23 hrs ago #59

Initech

(105,248 posts)
1. And Trump looks like a convicted felon who should be in prison.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 06:50 PM
Friday

Fuck you Donny. Just... fuck you!

Trueblue1968

(18,591 posts)
40. And tRump looks like a convicted pedophile and rapist who should be in prison.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:21 PM
Friday

In a 5 ft x 5 ft x5 ft dark dark dirt floor dungeon.

Trueblue1968

(18,591 posts)
58. He looks like an evil monster. Do him up like the Silence of The Lambs guy.
Sat Jun 14, 2025, 01:00 PM
23 hrs ago

#LockUpTrump

#TrumpIsTheAntiChrist

#ItsTimeToFrenchRevolutionTrump

Uncle Joe

(61,943 posts)
3. It would be nice if *rump would release the Epstein Files so that we could see who looks legal and who doesn't
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 06:55 PM
Friday

Thanks for the thread bigtree

sinkingfeeling

(55,523 posts)
4. Hey, Donnie, if you were a real president you'd know Senator Padilla is a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 07:01 PM
Friday

Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety. I mean that's your highest priority after grifting money.

gopiscrap

(24,390 posts)
52. In my head I just did 91 of them
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 11:27 PM
Friday

so if I can do that, then as president that orange felonious ass hat should be able to recognize a US Senator from the most populous state in the union

Grim Chieftain

(225 posts)
42. Thanks, dogs are my favorites people as the saying goes
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:24 PM
Friday

This Trump and MAGA debacle is draining me. I cannot believe the damage that has been done in just five months. I dread to think what will happen if this remains unchecked.

Irish_Dem

(70,916 posts)
8. Everyone there knew exactly who Padilla was.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 07:20 PM
Friday

The goal was to humiliate him and send a message.
Like when they arrested other Dem leaders and judges.

Bernardo de La Paz

(56,421 posts)
30. He arrived with an FBI/other LEO escort. The thugs knew he was a VIP. And the "offense" was no offense. . . nt
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:00 PM
Friday

Irish_Dem

(70,916 posts)
34. Yes everyone knew who he was.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:04 PM
Friday

And he is a good looking man so of course ICE Barbie, who fancies herself a hot sex object, knew who he was.

Yes the so called offenses were lies.
Just like the mayor and judge who were arrested.

Bernardo de La Paz

(56,421 posts)
50. Nobody expects the Krusty Gnome Inquisition!
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 10:41 PM
Friday

Undoubtedly patiently waiting at the back of the room. What would his escort fear about a room of people who all passed through metal detectors and screening?

kacekwl

(8,353 posts)
9. And the news media goes
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 07:29 PM
Friday

Oh that trump. What a useless group. They destroyed their profession

Bernardo de La Paz

(56,421 posts)
29. Calling a person "illegal" is denying their personhood. Corporations have more rights, it seems. . . . nt
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:58 PM
Friday

Hornedfrog2000

(259 posts)
13. This might be the most blatantly racist
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 07:47 PM
Friday

Thing he has said... i mean how can you refute this statement isnt 100% racist? I mean trump literally looks like an umpa loompa, send his ass back to the factory

Dan

(4,726 posts)
14. I suspected (or knew) that when Hispanics became the largest minority group in America
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 07:49 PM
Friday

that the racist Whites would target them - never quite replacing their hatred for Blacks with Hispanics, but would definitely target them.

IronLionZion

(49,158 posts)
19. What does an illegal look like?
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:12 PM
Friday

Because there are undocumented immigrants who look like Donald Trump and Stephen Miller.

IronLionZion

(49,158 posts)
46. Convicted felon, twice impeached, surrounded by shady criminals his whole life
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 10:16 PM
Friday

seems pretty illegal to me

Aussie105

(7,044 posts)
20. Trump's attempt at 'racial purity'.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:21 PM
Friday

If your skin isn't snow white Northern European, or you look suspiciously Hispanic, obviously Trump wants you out of the country. Any way possible.

Reminds me of a leader about a century ago who declared there were 'untermensch' and 'ubermensch' in the population.
And if you were fair skinned, blonde and blue eyed, you were in the ubermensch club.
(Just rationalising xenophobia and some Bad Things that happened at the time.)

Maybe reincarnation is not such a big impossibility?

Deport too many people, and there will be no one to make Trump's hamburders though . . .

DSandra

(1,594 posts)
37. Trump wants to racially and culturally "purify" America...
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:09 PM
Friday

By eventually oppressing, destroying, or deporting everyone who does not fit into the "ubermensch" of white, straight, cisgender, Christians who are unquestioningly loyal and obedient to the Republican Party leader.

IronLionZion

(49,158 posts)
55. The master race is blonde as Hitler, slim as Guerring, tall and perfect footed as Goebbels
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 11:58 PM
Friday

wise as Trump, sober as Hegseth, handsome as Stephen Miller, etc.

moniss

(7,472 posts)
22. Obviously displaying his bigotry but I don't think that was accidental
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:34 PM
Friday

by any means. Crumb The 1st is always messaging to his people. I see the same thing now and then when white people automatically ask someone with a Hispanic sounding name "How long have you been here?" or "What country are you from?" etc. when in fact they their family has been here for 200 years and more. It's as ignorant as asking someone "What reservation do you live on?" when finding out someone is Native American.

dchill

(42,599 posts)
23. One thing for sure - it's whatever Trump thinks that counts.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:43 PM
Friday

And they seem to know what Trump thinks. What would Trumpy do?

Dem4life1970

(906 posts)
25. Donald Trump is a racist to his core.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:53 PM
Friday

If he isn't, no ONE is. Period. End of story.

Not all of the people who support him are racists....but racism is obviously NOT a deal breaker for them.

SalviaBlue

(3,076 posts)
26. More Americans voted for Senator Alex Padilla
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:54 PM
Friday

than voted for 48 of the 53 red state GOP U.S. Senators combined.

Bernardo de La Paz

(56,421 posts)
28. He's a racist. Through and through. Central Park Five another case. His two 1980s consent decrees on housing. . . nt
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 08:56 PM
Friday

DSandra

(1,594 posts)
32. To Trump, all brown skinned hispanics are illegal
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:02 PM
Friday

and he wishes to throw them out of the country.

Ping Tung

(2,640 posts)
39. "Looked like an illegal.." Says the convicted felon who looks like a pregnant goldfish wearing a pink tie.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:16 PM
Friday

ananda

(32,145 posts)
41. This op is helpful to me.
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:23 PM
Friday

I just snapped to the way Noem spoke about his
lack of "respect."

This is pre-civil rights speak.

She would have had him lynched back in the day.

ICE and the Trump enforcers are the new KKK.

Paladin

(30,718 posts)
43. Love it when trump humiliates himself to the whole world...
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:29 PM
Friday

...and never has the faintest clue that he's done so.

But by all means, mainstream media, remind us all of what a pathetic, clueless old warhorse Joe Biden was, at the end of his public service.

FB47243

(63 posts)
44. I wish
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 09:31 PM
Friday

This report could be verified and corroborated. Is there anything else but the biographers statements?

Bayard

(25,463 posts)
53. He's never heard of this sitting senator???!!
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 11:29 PM
Friday

But he looks illegal.....

Words escape me. How did a New York boy get to be this phenomenally racist? Although I've read that his father was too. I just don't get it, except it proves again how nuts he is, and unqualified for the job Musk bought him.

ecstatic

(34,810 posts)
54. There you have it. That's it in a nutshell
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 11:56 PM
Friday

Pet trump and his maggots: If you do not have lily white skin, there's a chance that you're an "illegal," which also means that law enforcement has the right to rough you up, arrest and deport you to El Salvador or the Sudan without due process.

Hopefully trump's stance is 100% clear now to the dumb motherfuckers who voted for him.

As Padilla stated: if they could do that to a sitting US senator what the fuck do you think they'll do to you?

DFW

(58,234 posts)
56. To native Americans, Trump looks like General Custer
Fri Jun 13, 2025, 11:59 PM
Friday

Does that mean that they would be justified in giving him the same treatment that Custer got at Little Big Horn?

Montauk6

(9,139 posts)
59. Tis better to LOOK like an illegal, than to have a presidential rap sheet and remove all doubts
Sat Jun 14, 2025, 01:04 PM
23 hrs ago
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Trump: Sen Padilla "looke...