During President Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress, Representative Al Green (D-Texas) sparked chaos by protesting just minutes into the speech. The 77-year-old lawmaker rose from his seat, waved his cane, and shouted, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!”—a rebuke of Trump’s policies and claims of electoral authority. Republicans quickly drowned him out with chants of “U.S.A.!” and demands for him to sit down.
House Speaker Mike Johnson twice halted the proceedings to warn Green, threatening removal if he continued. After Green refused to comply, Johnson ordered the Sergeant-at-Arms to eject him, a decision met with cheers from GOP members. Vice President JD Vance notably gestured for Green’s expulsion, amplifying the tension.
This incident echoes past disruptions during presidential addresses, such as Republicans heckling Biden in 2022 without facing removal and Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) yelling “You lie!” at Obama in 2009. However, Green’s protest defied Democratic leaders’ pleas for restraint, complicating the party’s efforts to present a unified front against Trump.
Known for his maverick streak, Green has long clashed with his party, notably pushing for Trump’s impeachment three times before most Democrats supported it. Yet he also aided Democrats in 2023 by appearing in hospital attire to block a GOP-led impeachment vote against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
After his removal, Green defended his protest as necessary to resist Trump, stating, “It was worth it to let people know some will stand up.” The episode underscores the challenges of maintaining decorum in a deeply divided Congress while highlighting Green’s role as both a disruptor and an unpredictable ally within his party.
