The unexpected turn of events occurred during a session of Congress following a fiery outburst by Representative Green moments after President Trump’s speech, during which he referred to his election win as a “mandate.” Green, a long-serving Democrat from Houston, rose from his seat, brandishing his cane, and vociferously declared, “You do not have a mandate to slash Medicaid funding.” Speaker Mike Johnson swiftly intervened, banging his gavel and urging Green to maintain order, instructing him to resume his seat. However, Green persisted in his protest, prompting Johnson to call for his removal from the chamber.
In the aftermath of Trump’s address, Speaker Johnson expressed his intention to pursue a censure against Green, vowing to introduce a resolution to that effect on the House floor. Johnson denounced Green’s actions as unnecessary theatrics, remarking to the press that the congressman had etched a regrettable mark in history and suggesting that he relished the attention.
In a subsequent appearance on “Good Morning America,” Johnson defended his decision to have Green escorted out, asserting that Green’s attempt to disrupt the proceedings warranted such action. He challenged the Democratic Party’s choice to have a senior congressman, aged 77, as the emblem of their resistance, insinuating that such behavior would be met head-on.
Reflecting on his actions, Green maintained that he was following his conscience and emphasized the importance of taking a stand when necessary, even if it meant standing alone. He underscored the need for individuals to show courage in the face of adversity. As of the following day, Green had not engaged with Democratic leadership on the incident, as he was preoccupied with mourning the passing of fellow Texas Democratic Representative, Sylvester Turner.
The escalating tensions culminated in a move by Republicans to censure Democrat Al Green for his disruption of Trump’s address, underscoring the partisan divisions within the House of Representatives.
