In a significant political move, House lawmakers have voted to censure Rep. Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, following his abrupt removal from President Donald Trump's address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night. This action saw ten Democrats joining their Republican counterparts in supporting the censure measure. Notably, Green himself opted to vote 'present', alongside first-term Rep. Shomari Figures from Alabama.
Rep. Al Green's disruptive behavior during Trump’s speech has been characterized by many as a reflection of the ongoing chaos and dysfunction within the Democratic Party since Trump's decisive victory in November. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, a Republican from Minnesota, articulated his views on the matter, stating that it was unsurprising that 198 Democrats refrained from supporting Green's censure, attributing this to their history of radical rhetoric driven by what he termed Trump Derangement Syndrome.
The ten Democrats who voted in favor of censure included Reps. Ami Bera (D-Calif.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), Jim Costa (D-Calif.), Laura Gillen (D-N.Y.), Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-Wash.), and Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.). Following the censure, Republican representatives quickly moved to draft competing resolutions against Green, with at least three texts emerging within hours.
Rep. Dan Newhouse from Washington, whose resolution received a vote on the House floor the following morning, had initiated discussions with Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana about crafting a censure resolution immediately after Trump’s address ended. The House Freedom Caucus also intended to follow through on threats to censure any Democrats who protested Trump's speech, with Rep. Troy Nehls from Texas drafting his own resolution which garnered over 30 co-sponsors from the House GOP.
Newhouse took the House floor on Wednesday to declare his resolution privileged, which mandated that House leaders address the bill within two legislative days. Following the vote, he stated, “President Trump’s address to Congress was not a debate or a forum; he was invited by the Speaker to outline his agenda for the American people. The actions by my colleague from Texas broke the rules of decorum in the House, and he must be held accountable.”
Rep. Al Green, aged 77, was removed from the chamber after he repeatedly interrupted Trump, shouting phrases such as, “You have no mandate!” while the President highlighted Republican victories. Speaker Johnson ordered Green’s removal through the U.S. Sergeant-at-Arms, amidst a backdrop of visible protests from other Democratic lawmakers during Trump’s address. Democrats faced criticism for their lack of applause when Trump honored a 13-year-old boy as an honorary Secret Service agent.
Speaker Johnson publicly challenged Democrats to join Republicans in supporting the censure on Thursday. He emphasized that despite multiple warnings, Green refused to adhere to House rules, necessitating the censure vote as an appropriate response. He stated, “Any Democrat who is concerned about regaining the trust and respect of the American people should join House Republicans in this effort.”
Despite the censure, Rep. Green maintained his stance during a debate about his actions. He commented, “I heard the speaker when he said that I should cease. I did not, and I did not with intentionality. It was not done out of a burst of emotion. I think that on some questions, questions of conscience, you have to be willing to suffer the consequences.” He expressed his willingness to face repercussions due to his belief that everyone in the wealthiest nation should have access to quality healthcare.
Rep. Al Green's censure adds him to a list of recent lawmakers who have faced similar actions on the House floor, including Rep. Rashida Tlaib from Michigan, former Rep. Jamaal Bowman from New York, and now-Senator Adam Schiff from California. These incidents underscore the increasing tensions and divisions within Congress, particularly regarding decorum and respect during official proceedings.
