Texas Democrat Al Green Removed From Chamber After Silent Protest During Trump Address
Only minutes after President Donald Trump began his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Texas, staged a silent protest that led to his removal from the House chamber by security officials.
Green, 79, stood from his seat holding a sign bearing the message “Black people aren’t apes!” written in bold capital letters. The protest appeared to be a response to a controversial video shared earlier this month on Trump’s social media account that depicted former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama using racist imagery.
Swift response inside the chamber
House floor staff quickly approached Green and attempted to lower the sign before asking him to leave. As the situation unfolded, several lawmakers intervened.
Representative Steve Scalise, the Republican majority leader from Louisiana, noticed the sign as he entered the chamber alongside the president and attempted to seize it from Green.
Meanwhile, Republican Senators Markwayne Mullin and Roger Marshall positioned themselves in front of Green, attempting to block the sign from the cameras and from the president’s view.
As Green was escorted toward the exit, chants of “U.S.A.!” erupted from parts of the chamber. Representative Troy Nehls, another outspoken Trump ally, leaned into the aisle and made several attempts to grab the sign before Green was led out.
Throughout the disruption, President Trump paused briefly and, as Green exited the chamber, simply said “thank you” before resuming his speech.
A repeated act of protest
The incident marked the second time Green has disrupted a Trump address to Congress in recent years. In 2025, he was forcibly removed during Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress after loudly heckling the president, an incident that later resulted in a formal censure by the House.
This year’s protest was noticeably quieter and lasted only a few minutes, avoiding the verbal confrontation that characterized last year’s exchange between Green and Speaker Mike Johnson.
Democratic strategy shifts
Ahead of the address, Democratic leadership had urged lawmakers to avoid disruptions and maintain decorum, warning that protests could distract from broader criticism of Trump’s agenda.
Several prominent Democrats who participated in silent demonstrations during last year’s address chose not to attend this year’s event. Instead, they organized counterprogramming, including public forums and media appearances, aimed at offering an alternative response to the president’s speech.
Green’s protest, though brief, once again underscored the deep partisan tensions surrounding Trump’s presidency and highlighted the continuing struggle within Congress over how best to confront rhetoric and actions viewed by critics as racially divisive.