House Votes To Censure Democratic Texas Rep. Al Green For Heckling Trump During Address To Congress

On Tuesday night, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was escorted out of the House chamber after he disrupted President Donald Trump‘s joint address to Congress. Barely two minutes into his speech, Trump was met with protest from the Texas congressman, as he stood and began to shout, waving his cane in frustration.

Green was ejected from the Hall for his actions. Green has been in Congress for 20 years and has repeatedly called to impeach Trump. His behavior was not the first time an opposition lawmaker interrupted a president’s address to Congress. 

In 2022, Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) and Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado) interrupted former President Joe Biden‘s State of the Union speech. They shouted out phrases such as “build that wall” when he talked about the southern border. Neither were ejected from the chamber. 

“You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!” Green yelled. Republicans responded to his outburst in a chant, clapping and exclaiming, “U.S.A!” Speaker Mike Johnson interjected twice to tap his gavel and warn Green that he would be removed from the chamber if he continued.

Vice President JD Vance sat next to Johnson, making a thumb gesture indicating that Green should be thrown out as members mocked him. 

“Finding that members continue to engage in willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the chair now directs the Sergeant-at-arms to restore order,” Johnson said, prompting cheers from Republicans. “Remove this gentleman from the chamber!” 

After he was kicked out Tuesday night, Green told reporters it was “worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up” to Trump. Green told CNN he is willing to “suffer the consequences” for disrupting Trump’s address to Congress.

Republicans quickly rebuked Green with a censure resolution, officially registering the House’s disapproval of a member’s conduct. The vote was 224-198. 

Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-Washington) told NBC it was a “necessary but difficult step.”

“This resolution is offered in all seriousness, something that I believe we must do in order to get us to the next level of conduct in this hallowed chamber,” Newhouse said. 

Democratic voters are concerned about the direction of the country. In a February CBS News and YouGov poll, 65% of Democratic voters said the party’s congressional lawmakers should oppose Trump “as much as possible.” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNN earlier Wednesday that the “overwhelming majority” of Democrats approached the speech with seriousness. Several other progressive Democrats walked out, while others shouted back at the president from their seats and held up signs, saying “False” and “Elon Steals.”