Al Green escorted out of House chamber during State of the Union after protest
al green was escorted from the House chamber on Tuesday night during the president’s State of the Union address after he stood in the center aisle holding a sign that read “Black people aren’t apes!”. The removal — the second year in a row — came amid visible partisan friction as Democrats sat solemnly while Republicans repeatedly rose to applaud.
Al Green ejected after silent, pointed protest
Congressman Al Green lingered in the center aisle holding the sign that referenced the president sharing a racist video depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama. Unlike last year, when he was ordered out by House speaker Mike Johnson for yelling responses during the address, this year’s protest was silent but pointed; Green continued to brandish the sign as he was escorted from the room.
Republicans grabbed at the sign and engaged physically
Multiple Republican representatives tried to grab at the sign or block it from being viewed by cameras as staffers moved to remove Green. Representative Troy Nehls could be seen aggressively engaging with Green as he passed by, and Senator Markwayne Mullin also approached him menacingly. A staffer ultimately escorted the Democratic lawmaker to the door.
Acrimony in the aisle and an empty seat
As he walked out clutching his walking stick and the protest sign, there were acrimonious exchanges with Republicans and some members began chanting “USA! USA!” Green’s seat was left empty, with a handwritten cardboard sign that said “Al Green. ”
al green called removal “of no consequence” and defended his action
Outside the chamber, al green told reporters the removal for the second year in a row was “of no consequence, ” still holding his sign for cameras to see. He said nothing would prevent him from doing what he believed was a righteous thing to do: “You have to take a stand, ” he added. “I am just a person who has done it – but there are many others, I believe, who would. ”
Other Democrats sat, walked out or shouted during the address
Green was not alone in protesting the president. Several Democrats spent much of the speech sitting solemnly while Republicans leapt to their feet to clap at the end of nearly every sentence. Several Democrats walked out early. Senator Mark Warner posted on Bluesky that he “couldn’t sit through an hour of Trump’s lies” and left while the president inflated his economic achievements. Representative Bill Foster shared on X that he gave himself “5 bald-faced lies” — the same as last year — before he left, writing, “Less than one hour into his speech, I’m out. ”
Voiced objections from the House floor
Voices rose from the Democratic side during moments of the address. Representative Rashida Tlaib, who was wearing a pin that read “release the files, ” could be heard yelling about the killing of Alex Pretti, shouting, “They saw the videos, Mr President. They saw the videos. ” Representative Ilhan Omar shouted, “You should be ashamed, ” as the president told Democrats they should be ashamed, and repeatedly yelled, “you have killed Americans. ”
Green has been among the president’s most persistent critics, was the first member of Congress to call for his impeachment as early as 2017, and represents a predominantly African American district where he has long fought for civil rights. It is unclear in the provided context what disciplinary steps, if any, will follow or what protests are planned next.
