People are pissed that Sen. David Perdue snatched a student's phone

“Give me my phone back, Senator."
 By 
Shannon Connellan
 on 
Original image replaced with Mashable logo
Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Senator David Perdue snatched a Georgia Tech student's phone from their hands on Saturday, and people are pretty outraged.

When visiting the Atlanta campus to attend a campaign event for Republican gubernatorial nominee Brian Kemp, Perdue was questioned by a GT member of Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) about voter suppression in Georgia.

Kemp has recently become the subject of scrutiny, after an Associated Press report indicated that 53,000 voter registrations are sitting in limbo within Kemp's office — most of these belong to black voters and other minorities.

Democratic opponent Stacey Adams accused Kemp of using voter suppression as an intimidation and fear-mongering tactic that "is as much about terrifying people about trying to vote as it is about actually blocking their ability to do so."

So, Perdue, when questioned about Kemp's actions on Saturday, decided the best (and most mature) course of action wasn't to have a conversation, but to grab the questioner's phone from their hands.

YDSA posted a video of the moment to Twitter, which was captured on the phone. Just before snatching the phone, Perdue says "No, I’m not doing that," in response to the student's questions.

Then, with the student's phone in his hand, Perdue says, "You wanted a picture. I’m going to give it to you."

“Give me my phone back, Senator,” the student asks multiple times.

YSDA described the incident as "shocking, appalling, and totally unbecoming of the supposedly hallowed office of US Senator." The group told Mashable the student was considering filing a campus police report.

"Perdue walked into Georgia Tech’s backyard, and students aren’t allowed to ask him a simple question? It would be one thing to say 'no comment' or inform us he’s not taking questions. Perdue would have been within his legal rights to simply walk away or decline the question. But instead, he forcibly, suddenly, and violently took their phone without justification or provocation," YDSA said in a statement.

Perdue's action royally pissed off people on Twitter, some who pointed out the potential repercussions if the situation had been reversed.

"Had the situation today been the other way around, and if the Georgia Tech student had snatched a sitting US Senator’s phone, the student would likely have been arrested on the spot," YDSA said in their statement.

There were calls for the student to press charges against the Senator for theft, even though Perdue eventually returned the phone.

Others were simply disappointed in the Senator's actions.

Perdue is yet to issue a public response.

Topics Politics

A photo portrait of a journalist with blonde hair and a band t-shirt.
Shannon Connellan
UK Editor

Shannon Connellan is Mashable's UK Editor based in London, formerly Mashable's Australia Editor, but emotionally, she lives in the Creel House. A Tomatometer-approved critic, Shannon writes about entertainment, tech, social good, science, culture, and Australian horror.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Google responds to claim that it stole NPR host's voice
google logo on smartphone


Realme's 10,001mAh battery phone is real, and it's remarkably light
Realme P4 Power 5G

Leaks suggest Nothing Phone 4a is coming very soon
Nothing Phone 3 from behind

Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases: Where to get fun ones right now
Four Samsung Galaxy S26 phone cases on a colorful background

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

Google launches Gemma 4, a new open-source model: How to try it
Google Gemma

NYT Strands hints, answers for April 3, 2026
A game being played on a smartphone.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!