Al Green escorted out of State of the Union after ‘Black people aren’t apes!’ sign

al green was escorted from the House chamber Tuesday night during the State of the Union after he lingered in the center aisle holding a sign that read “Black people aren’t apes!” — a silent protest that underscored broader Democratic opposition while many Republicans repeatedly rose and applauded.

Al Green removed almost immediately

Congressman Al Green was ejected almost immediately after President Trump began his address, marking the second year in a row he has been removed from the annual event. Last year Green was ordered out by House speaker Mike Johnson after yelling responses during the speech; this year’s protest was silent but pointed. As other attendees sat, Green stayed in the center aisle brandishing the cardboard sign before a staffer escorted him to the door.

Sign referenced racist depiction of the Obamas

The sign Green held — the words “Black people aren’t apes!” visible to cameras — was a direct reference to the US president sharing what the context described as a racist video depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama. Multiple Republican representatives attempted to grab the sign or block it from view as Green was led out.

Tensions in the aisle and on the way out

Representative Troy Nehls, also from Texas, could be seen aggressively engaging with Green as he passed, and Senator Markwayne Mullin approached menacingly. Green left the chamber clutching his walking stick and the protest sign; there were acrimonious exchanges with Republicans and some began chanting “USA! USA!” after he was escorted out. Green’s seat remained empty, the row marked by a handwritten cardboard sign that said “Al Green. ”

Democrats stayed seated or walked out

Dozens of Democrats staged broader protests during the address: many sat solemnly in the chamber while Republican colleagues leapt to their feet to clap at the end of nearly every sentence. Several Democrats walked out early. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia posted on the social media network Bluesky that he “couldn’t sit through an hour of Trump’s lies” and left during remarks about economic achievements. Representative Bill Foster of Illinois wrote on X that he counted “5 bald-faced lies” — the same as last year — and added, “Less than one hour into his speech, I’m out. ”

Shouts from the Democratic side

As Trump spoke about immigration enforcement to a standing ovation from Republicans and rebuked Democrats while calling for funding for the Department of Homeland Security, Representative Rashida Tlaib, wearing a pin that read “release the files, ” could be heard yelling about the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse shot to death by federal agents. “They saw the videos, Mr President, ” she shouted. Representative Ilhan Omar shouted “You should be ashamed, ” as the president told Democrats they should be ashamed, and she repeatedly yelled “you have killed Americans. ” The account ends with the fragment “Omar and Tlai” — unclear in the provided context.

Green, a long-time civil rights advocate who represents a predominantly African American district and who was the first member of Congress to call for President Trump’s impeachment as early as 2017, told reporters outside the chamber that his removal for a second consecutive year was “of no consequence. ” He remained holding his sign for cameras and said nothing would stop him from doing what he believed to be righteous: “You have to take a stand, ” he said. “I am just a person who has done it – but there are many others, I believe, who would. ”

What comes next was unclear in the provided context.