Republicans are launching efforts to censure Rep. Al Green for heckling Donald Trump
WASHINGTON - Republicans are launching efforts to censure Rep. Al Green, D-Texas., after causing disruptions during President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.
The ultraconservative House Freedom Caucus wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that they will introduce a resolution to censure Green. Other Republicans including Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas., and Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., have similar efforts underway.
“The conduct of the representative from Texas disrupted the proceedings of the joint address and was a breach of proper conduct,” Newhouse said on the House floor Wednesday when introducing his resolution to censure the Texas Democrat.
Green was escorted out of the U.S. Capitol chamber early on in Trump’s speech after he rose from his seat, interrupted the president and started saying, “You don’t have a mandate” before being drowned out by Republican jeers. Trump had just claimed "the presidential election of Nov. 5 was a mandate like has not been seen in many decades."
Many recent elections have been decided by wider margins in the popular and vote and Electoral College, including former President Barack Obama's 2008 and 2012 victories.
When House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., ordered Green to take his seat, Green refused.
“His complete lack of decorum and refusal to follow the direction of the Speaker last night was beyond unacceptable,” Rep. Andy Ogles, a House Freedom Caucus member, wrote on X.
Green told reporters later that "it's worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up” to Trump. He has filed multiple impeachment bids against Trump during his first and second term.
Democrats largely dismissed criticism of Green’s actions.
“They’re all about free speech and they don't let Al Green speak, you know,” Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández, D-N.M., told Paste BN. “And Al Green is Al Green. He’s an amazing man.”
Republicans have heckled former President Joe Biden during his State of the Union addresses in the past. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., for instance, interrupted Biden in his 2023 address and shouted “liar” at him.