Protester throws tomato at Macedo during High-Speed Rail press conference

Asm. Alexandra Macedo (R–Tulare) had a tomato thrown at her during a press conference in Los Angeles on Thursday. 

Macedo was attending the press conference with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who announced that the federal government is launching an investigation into around $4 billion in federal funding that was allocated to California High-Speed Rail by the Biden administration. 

The big picture: Following the press conference, Macedo took questions from the media alongside other elected officials. 

• While answering a question, someone threw a tomato at her, which she dodged as it flew past her head. 
• The incident took place at Union Station in Los Angeles, where the press conference was attended by many protesters who were shouting at Duffy and other lawmakers throughout the event. 

What she’s saying: Macedo responded to the incident on X: 

Throughout my life I was taught to be tough & handle every curve ball thrown at me. A tomato is new
If you are going to throw produce, make
sure is it #CaliforniaGrown This was my effort to have an open & honest conversation with people who disagree #tomatotantrum pic.twitter.com/0SFLsROIGI— Alexandra Macedo (@Macedo4Assembly) February 21, 2025