Al Green ejected from House chamber as al green holds 'Black people aren't apes' sign
Rep. al green was escorted from the House chamber almost immediately after President Trump began his State of the Union address, after the Texas Democrat stood in the center aisle holding a sign that said "Black people aren't apes!" The removal underscored a broader partisan split in the chamber, with many Democrats remaining seated while Republicans frequently rose to applaud.
Second consecutive year of removal, this time a silent protest
The removal marked the second year in a row that Green was taken out of the annual address. Last year he had been ordered out by House Speaker Mike Johnson for yelling responses as the president spoke; this year's action was quiet but pointed. As Trump began his remarks and others sat down, Green lingered in the center aisle brandishing a sign that directly referenced the president sharing a racist video depiction of Barack and Michelle Obama.
Republicans attempt to block the sign and members confront Green
Multiple Republican representatives tried to grab at the sign or block it from cameras as staff escorted Green from the room. Representative Troy Nehls, also from Texas, was seen aggressively engaging with Green as he passed, and Senator Markwayne Mullin approached menacingly. A staffer ultimately guided the Democratic lawmaker to the door.
Walking out with his walking stick; chants and an empty seat
Green left the chamber clutching both his walking stick and the protest sign. As he exited there were acrimonious exchanges with Republicans, and a few began chanting "USA! USA!" Back in the chamber his seat remained empty, a handwritten cardboard sign placed there that read "Al Green. "
Green's stance, history of criticism and comments outside the chamber
Green has been among Trump'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. Outside the chamber, Green said his removal was "of no consequence, " still holding his sign for cameras to see. He added that nothing would prevent him from doing what he believed was 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. "
Broader Democratic protests, walkouts and shouted interruptions
Green was not the only Democrat to register opposition during the speech. Democrats spent much of the address solemnly sitting while Republicans rose to clap at the end of nearly every sentence. Several Democrats walked out early. Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, wrote that he "couldn't sit through an hour of Trump's lies" and left while the president touted economic achievements. Representative Bill Foster of Illinois said he counted "5 bald-faced lies" — the same as last year — before he left, writing, "Less than one hour into his speech, I'm out. "
Heated exchanges over immigration comments and protests from Tlaib and Omar
As the president made comments about his immigration enforcement agenda, Republicans gave a standing ovation; he rebuked Democrats for not joining as he called for Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security. Representative Rashida Tlaib, who was 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 yelled, "They saw the videos. " Representative Ilhan Omar shouted, "You should be ashamed, " and repeatedly yelled, "you have killed Americans. "
