Eric Slover Awarded Medal of Honor During State of the Union; Rep. Al Green Ejected Over Protest Sign
Chief Warrant Officer 5 eric slover received the Medal of Honor during President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, an award that highlighted a night of high drama on the House floor. The presentation and an unrelated ejection of Rep. Al Green underscored a session that combined a military citation with a sharp congressional protest on Feb. 25, 2026.
Eric Slover honored at State of the Union
President Trump presented the Medal of Honor to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eric Slover on Tuesday during the State of the Union. As Slover and his wife entered the chamber they drew a standing ovation and chants of “USA, USA, USA. ” The ceremony marked the first time a Medal of Honor has been presented during the annual address.
Operation Absolute Resolve and the Caracas approach
Trump credited Slover with helping to plan Operation Absolute Resolve and said Slover served as the flight lead aboard the first Chinook helicopter to approach Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s heavily fortified Caracas compound under cover of night. The president described the mission as “very dangerous, ” saying the enemy “knew we were coming, ” and added the military installation was protected by thousands of soldiers and guarded by Russian and Chinese technology, before quipping, “How did that work out? Not too good. ”
Injuries sustained while preparing to land
As the aircraft prepared to land, Slover was struck by hostile fire in the leg and hip. Trump said he “absorbed four agonizing shots, shredding his leg into numerous pieces. ” Despite those wounds, Slover brought the helicopter and his team back to safety; the president pictured Slover focused on Maduro even as he was “gushing blood which was flowing back down the aisle” and the helicopter landed at a steep angle. Trump noted that Slover continues to recover from his injuries.
Additional Medal of Honor presented to Royce Williams
The White House also presented a Medal of Honor that evening to retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams for actions as a fighter pilot during the Korean War, a separate recognition delivered on the same night as Slover’s ceremony.
Rep. Al Green ejected after holding protest sign
Earlier in the evening, Rep. Al Green was ejected from the House chamber for holding a sign that read, "Black people aren't apes. " He was still holding the sign when he spoke to reporters in the Capitol and told them President Trump "got the message" on the sign. That exchange and his ejection occurred on Feb. 25, 2026.
Tanya Noury is a reporter for Military Times and Defense News, with coverage focusing on the White House and Pentagon.
What makes this notable is the juxtaposition of a rare public military decoration timed to the president’s prime address and a sharply public congressional protest on the same day, combining ceremonial recognition with partisan confrontation under one roof.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 eric slover’s award and Rep. Al Green’s ejection together framed a State of the Union that mixed battlefield commemoration, specific operational detail about Operation Absolute Resolve, and a visible floor-level political protest on Feb. 25, 2026.
