Democratic Rep. Jared Golden is calling out members of his own party for turning public service into a political stunt show.

Golden, a congressman from Maine, slammed fellow Democrats Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey and Sen. Alex Padilla of California for what he described as blatant “politics as theater.”

Golden’s remarks came after Padilla caused a chaotic scene at a Department of Homeland Security press conference. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem was speaking to reporters when Padilla stormed in, interrupted the event, and allegedly rushed toward Noem. Moments later, Padilla was tackled, handcuffed, and removed from the room by law enforcement.

“Storming into the FBI headquarters and trying to break up a press conference and rushing toward a cabinet member is not really the job of an elected official,” Golden said to Axios.

While Golden did admit that “it’s never good when a senator or member of Congress gets roughed up by law enforcement,” he made it clear he believed Padilla had crossed the line.

“I don’t think politics as theater is what our job is here,” he said.

DHS didn’t mince words either. In a statement posted to X, the department explained that Padilla had “interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself,” and added that he “lunged toward” Secretary Noem. According to DHS, Padilla had no visible Senate security pin on him and refused multiple orders to step back.

“Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem,” DHS stated. “Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands.”