Al Green ejected as al green holds 'Black people aren't apes!' sign

al green was escorted out of the House chamber on Tuesday night almost immediately after the start of the State of the Union, holding a sign that read "Black people aren’t apes!" The Texas Democrat’s removal marked the second year in a row he has been removed from the annual event.

Al Green escorted from chamber

As dozens of their colleagues boycotted the State of the Union address, several Democrats in the House chamber made their opposition clear. Green lingered in the center aisle while the president began his address, brandishing the sign that referenced the president sharing a racist video depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama. A staffer escorted the Democratic lawmaker to the door, and Green continued to hold the sign as multiple Republican representatives tried to grab at it or block it from being viewed by cameras.

Silent protest at State of the Union

This year’s protest from the Texas representative was silent but pointed; it followed last year’s episode when Green was ordered out by House speaker Mike Johnson for yelling responses as the president spoke. The removal on Tuesday night was described as the second year in a row he has been removed, and Green later called the removal "of no consequence" when speaking to reporters outside the chamber.

Republicans confront with chants

Representative Troy Nehls, also from Texas, could be seen aggressively engaging with Green as he passed by, just before the staffer escorted him out. Senator Markwayne Mullin also approached Green menacingly. As Green walked out of the chamber clutching his walking stick and protest sign, there were acrimonious exchanges with Republicans, and some Republicans began chanting "USA! USA!"

Democrats stay seated or leave

Democrats largely sat solemnly while Republican colleagues leapt to their feet to clap at the end of many of the president’s sentences. Several Democrats walked out early. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia posted on the social network 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 of Illinois 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. "

Voices, pins and shouted replies

As the president spoke about his immigration enforcement agenda to a standing ovation from Republicans and rebuked Democrats while calling for Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security, Representative Rashida Tlaib, sporting a pin that read "release the files", could be heard yelling back about the killing of Alex Pretti, a Minneapolis nurse shot to death by federal agents. Tlaib shouted, "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’s response outside chamber

Outside the chamber, Green said nothing would prevent him from doing what he believed was a righteous thing to do. He told reporters the removal was "of no consequence" and added, "You have to take a stand. I am just a person who has done it – but there are many others, I believe, who would. " His seat in the chamber was left empty except for a handwritten cardboard sign that said "Al Green. "

Green has been among the president’s top critics and was the first member of Congress to call for his impeachment as early as 2017. He represents a predominantly African American district and has long fought for civil rights.

Dozens of Democrats had boycotted the address, and Green was not alone in publicly demonstrating opposition during the State of the Union.