House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) booted Democratic Rep. Al Green of Texas from the House chamber on Tuesday night during President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
Trump was only minutes into his speech when Democrats erupted in protest, throwing the speech off. Johnson had to use his gavel to restore order to the chamber. Afterward, Green refused to sit down and continued to yell toward the House speaker and the president.
“Mr. Green, take your seat. Take your seat, sir,” Johnson directed as Green continued to stand and yell toward the dais.
Johnson then directed that Green be removed from the chamber in order to restore decorum.
“Finding that members continue to engage in willful and concerted disruption of proper decorum, the chair now directs the sergeant-at-arms to restore order. Remove this gentleman from the chamber,” Johnson said. The sergeant-at-arms then escorted Green from the chamber.
“Members are directed to uphold and maintain decorum in the House. Mr. President, you may continue,” Johnson said before taking his seat.
Outside the chamber, Green spoke with reporters and said that before Johnson ordered him removed from the chamber, Green had been shouting that Trump had “no mandate” to cut Medicaid, according to the White House pool report.
Trump has repeatedly said he will not touch Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security.
“It’s worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up” to Trump, Green said. He added that he does not know if he will be formally punished for being removed from the House chamber.
Trump addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday evening in his first speech to both chambers simultaneously of his second term. The speech is not officially a State of the Union address, but it is very similar.
