An Al Green protest disrupted President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, ending with the Texas congressman being escorted from the House chamber.
Green, 78, held up a sign that read “Black people aren’t apes!” just minutes after Trump began speaking. Capitol officials quickly intervened and escorted him out.
What Happened Inside the Chamber
Green later told CNN he wanted the president to see the sign.
“I wanted the president to see it, and he saw it,” Green said. “Black people are not apes.”
The protest followed controversy earlier this month after Trump shared and later deleted a video on Truth Social that included racist imagery depicting former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama as apes.
Trump said he had not seen the final frames of the video and blamed a staffer for posting it. Reporting on that incident was covered by Reuters and other major outlets.
Party Leadership Warnings
House Democratic leaders had urged members to avoid public disruptions during the speech. According to Democratic lawmakers familiar with internal discussions, leaders told members to remain quiet or skip the address altogether.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said earlier in the day he was not concerned that members would defy guidance.
“There was an understanding that members are either going to attend or boycott,” Jeffries said.
Green said he was not defying leadership. “What I’m doing is making a point to the president,” he told reporters.
Green’s History of Confrontation
Green is one of the most vocal critics of Trump in Congress. He has repeatedly introduced articles of impeachment against the president during past terms.
He also previously interrupted a presidential address at the U.S. Capitol. Rules governing decorum in the House chamber are outlined by the House Committee on Rules.
The protest comes as Green faces a competitive primary race in Texas.
Broader Political Impact
Democratic leaders had feared that visible protests could shift attention away from Trump’s speech and create divisions within the party.
Green defended his actions, saying silence in the face of racism would be wrong.
“At some point you cannot let racism continue,” he said. “If you tolerate it, you perpetuate it.”
The incident added fresh tension to an already heated political climate, highlighting deep divisions as both parties prepare for the next election cycle.