On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to censure Democratic Representative Al Green after his outburst during President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress earlier in the week. The vote, led by Republicans, passed 224-198, with two members voting “present,” including Green himself. Ten Democrats joined Republicans in voting to censure the Texas lawmaker.
What Happened During Trump’s Speech?
On Tuesday night, as President Trump addressed a joint session of Congress, he referred to his recent electoral victory as a “mandate.” At that moment, Rep. Al Green stood up, pointed his cane, and shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson immediately banged his gavel and warned lawmakers to maintain order and decorum. However, Green refused to sit down, prompting Johnson to have him removed from the chamber.
House Censures Al Green
Censuring a House member is a formal public reprimand but does not result in any loss of privileges. However, it serves as a symbolic punishment for breaking the chamber’s code of conduct.
After Green’s removal from the joint session, Republican lawmakers quickly introduced resolutions to censure him. On Wednesday, Rep. Dan Newhouse formally brought forward a resolution, stating:
“Decorum and order are the foundation of the U.S. Congress. Rep. Green’s actions during President Trump’s address were unacceptable.”
The House voted on Thursday, and Green was officially censured. After the vote, he was called to the front of the chamber, where Speaker Mike Johnson read the resolution aloud.
A Heated Exchange Between Lawmakers
As Green stood in front of the House for the public reprimand, Democratic lawmakers surrounded him and started singing the famous civil rights anthem “We Shall Overcome.”
Republicans responded by yelling “order!”, leading to a heated exchange between both sides.
- Rep. Ayanna Pressley shouted back, “Shame on you!”
- Rep. Rashida Tlaib also loudly protested.
Speaker Johnson’s Reaction
After the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson told ABC News:
“I take no pleasure in making history like this. I want Congress to maintain its great traditions, and incidents like these damage that reputation.”
Johnson defended his decision to have Green removed, emphasizing that the congressman had deliberately broken House rules in an “unprecedented” manner.
Green Stands by His Actions
Despite the censure, Rep. Al Green did not back down. He later told reporters:
“I would do it again. There are times when it is better to stand alone than not stand at all.”
Green stated that he was acting on his conscience and was prepared to “suffer the consequences” of his actions.
Censure: A Political Tool?
Censuring lawmakers is historically a rare action, but in recent years, it has become more common. Green is now the fifth House member to be censured in this decade.
While a censure does not remove a member from office, it is often used as a political statement. Some Democrats criticized the move, saying that Republicans were using it as a political weapon against their opponents.
Has This Happened Before?
Green is not the first lawmaker to interrupt a presidential address.
- In 2022, Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert interrupted President Joe Biden’s speech.
- Greene did it again in 2024 during another Biden speech.
Despite past interruptions, this is the first time a lawmaker has been officially censured for it.
What’s Next?
While the censure does not carry any penalties, it has sparked major political debates about free speech, congressional decorum, and partisanship.
For now, Rep. Al Green stands by his protest, and Republicans stand by their decision to censure him.
With Congress becoming increasingly divided, this event highlights the growing tensions between both parties—and it may not be the last time such a dramatic incident occurs on the House floor.
