House Censure of Rep. Al Green Sparks Partisan Divide and Debate Over Decorum
House Speaker Mike Johnson strongly criticized Representative Al Green following a House vote to censure the Texas congressman for disrupting President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress. The censure motion passed with bipartisan support, although the aftermath was marred by partisan tension and accusations of "shameful" behavior.
Johnson, in an interview after the vote, described Green’s actions as "disgusting" and a "really sad day" for the institution of the House. He stated that Green’s intentional disruption during the president’s speech violated the tradition of decorum that is expected within the chamber.
"What Representative Al Green did in the midst of the president’s speech as our honored guest to the chamber was disrupted," Johnson stated. "He did it intentionally, as everyone saw. I gave him plenty of warnings and he refused. It was a deliberate action. It needed to be met with swift punishment. That’s the tradition of this place to maintain decorum, and so that’s what we just did."
Johnson emphasized that, based on his understanding of history, Green’s removal from the chamber was unprecedented during a presidential address. "To our understanding and our review of history, that was the first time that any member of Congress has ever had to be removed in the middle of a presidential address, and it’s shameful," he said.
The events leading to the censure began when Green disrupted Trump’s joint address by shouting, "You have no mandate!" as Trump highlighted Republican victories in the House, Senate, and White House. Following the disruption, Johnson had Green removed from the chamber by the U.S. sergeant-at-arms.
Despite the censure vote and removal, Green remained defiant. Speaking to the White House press pool, he stated his willingness to accept the consequences of his actions. "I’m willing to suffer whatever punishment is available to me. I didn’t say to anyone, don’t punish me. I’ve said I’ll accept the punishment," Green said. He also emphasized that his actions were motivated by his opposition to Trump’s policies, particularly those affecting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. "But it’s worth it to let people know that there are some of us who are going to stand up against this president’s desire to cut Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security."
While the censure vote passed with bipartisan support, the aftermath of the vote was marked by partisan displays. Before the formal censure could be read out, House Democrats gathered with Green and sang "We Shall Overcome," a song deeply associated with the Civil Rights Movement. This demonstration prompted Johnson to call a recess after multiple failed attempts to restore order.
Johnson criticized the Democrats’ reaction, stating, "They’re embarrassed by what happened. Many of their colleagues, as you know, were holding up signs on the floor and trying to disrupt in other ways." He did, however, give credit to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, stating that Jeffries had admonished his colleagues before the event to maintain decorum.
"We have to do that as leaders, and every member should be committed to that as well," Johnson stated. "It brings shame on the institution. It brought shame on them as individuals and on their party. And it’s just disgusting to me… I take no pleasure in this."
The White House also weighed in on the events, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the behavior of some Democrats during Trump’s address as "childish" and "shameful." Leavitt criticized Democrats for not applauding a child cancer survivor or acknowledging mothers of children murdered by illegal immigrants.
"Last night was a very clarifying moment for our country," Leavitt said. "The Democrats exposed themselves as the party of insanity and hate, the party that wants to put America last. They’ve allowed their Trump derangement syndrome to stop them from celebrating America and our people, and we will not allow them to forget that."
Johnson further argued that the Democratic Party is in "disarray," lacking a leader, vision, and direction for the future. "They’re flailing right now, so that’s why they resort to these antics," he said. "They want to fight Trump. They want to fight the America First agenda. They want to fight all of us. And so they debase themselves by showing up on the House floor and acting like children. It’s sad. This is an unfortunate day, and I wish we hadn’t had to go down this road."
The censure of Rep. Al Green has ignited a debate about the boundaries of protest and decorum in Congress. While some defend Green’s actions as a necessary form of resistance against policies they view as harmful, others condemn his disruptions as a violation of congressional norms and a display of disrespect. The partisan fallout from the event is likely to continue to fuel tensions within the House and shape the political landscape moving forward. The incident serves as a reminder of the deep divisions within American politics and the challenges of maintaining civility and order in an increasingly polarized environment.
