Rep. Al Green Faces House Censure After Disrupting Trump’s Speech/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The House of Representatives is set to vote Thursday on censuring Rep. Al Green (D-TX) for interrupting President Donald Trump’s address to Congress. Green, who was removed from the chamber, remains unapologetic, stating, “I would do it again” in protest of Trump’s claim of a mandate. The censure resolution, led by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), follows partisan tensions over decorum in Congress. Democrats argue Republicans were silent when their members heckled President Biden in past speeches.
Al Green’s Censure Vote: Quick Look
- Censure Vote Set: House to vote Thursday on censuring Rep. Al Green.
- Disrupting Trump’s Speech: Green shouted at Trump, claiming he has no mandate.
- Republicans Push Back: GOP leaders call Green’s actions a decorum breach.
- Democrats Defend Green: Cite past Republican heckling of Biden as hypocrisy.
- Green Stands Firm: “I would do it again,” he says in defense.
Al Green Faces Censure Vote After Shouting at Trump During Speech
Green Disrupts Trump’s Address
The House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on censuring Rep. Al Green (D-TX) for interrupting President Donald Trump during his address to Congress earlier this week.
During Tuesday night’s speech, Green stood and shouted at Trump after the president claimed his November election victory delivered a strong mandate.
“You have no mandate!” Green yelled, refusing orders from House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to take his seat. Johnson ultimately had Green removed from the chamber.
House Republicans quickly introduced a censure resolution, led by Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA), calling Green’s actions a “breach of proper conduct” during a joint address.
“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.
Green Remains Unapologetic
Despite the looming censure, Green has remained defiant.
Speaking on the House floor Wednesday, he stood by his protest, stating:
“Friends, I would do it again.”
Green explained that Trump does not have a mandate to cut Medicaid, a program many of his constituents rely on.
“This is a matter of principle. This is a matter of conscience,” Green said. “There are people suffering in this country because they don’t have health care.”
He concluded with a powerful defense of his actions:
“On some issues that are matters of conscience, it is better to stand alone than not stand at all.”
Partisan Tensions Over Decorum
Green’s outburst is just the latest example of partisan tensions during presidential addresses to Congress.
Democrats argue that Republicans were silent when members of their party heckled President Joe Biden during his 2024 State of the Union address.
Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) called out the double standard:
“Where were my Republican friends? Nobody apologized for interrupting Joe Biden time and again.”
During Biden’s speech last year, Republicans repeatedly shouted at him, including chants of “Say her name!” in reference to Laken Riley, a nursing student killed by an undocumented immigrant.
“You talk about lack of decorum? Go back and look at the tapes,” McGovern added.
Democratic Support for Green
Other Democrats have defended Green’s actions, arguing that Trump’s policies—particularly his proposed Medicaid cuts—warrant strong opposition.
Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) said:
“I think Al Green was telling the truth. Trump does not have a mandate to cut Medicaid.”
Rep. Jennifer McClellan (D-VA) also sympathized with Green’s frustration, saying:
“It was a hard speech to sit through, and I can only imagine how hard it was for Al Green, given his experience with the Civil Rights movement.”
Republicans Slam Green, Call for Accountability
House Republicans fired back, calling Democratic protests during Trump’s speech embarrassing and disruptive.
Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY) criticized Green and other Democrats, saying:
“They need to go get some medical help for the level of derangement they displayed tonight.”
He added:
“Their leadership should be ashamed of themselves. They sat there and allowed it to happen.”
Pelosi Weighs In
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), who famously ripped up Trump’s speech in 2020, defended Green’s right to protest.
“Everybody has to make their expression of how they see things,” Pelosi said. “I think we should keep our focus on the president’s speech.”
What’s Next?
The House censure vote is expected Thursday, with Republicans holding a majority.
If the vote passes, Green will be formally rebuked and required to stand in the well of the House as the resolution is read aloud.
While largely symbolic, censure is the strongest form of congressional punishment short of expulsion.
With tensions running high, Green’s unapologetic stance signals that partisan clashes in Congress are far from over.
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