Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) heckles President Trump in the House Chamber on March 4. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) was ejected from the House chamber Tuesday night after heckling President Trump during his speech before a joint session of Congress.
Why it matters: Green, long a staunch opponent of the president, was the lone Democrat removed from Trump’s address to Congress after a display of defiance that became one of the night’s viral moments.
Green, 77, is an 11-term member of the House representing a district that includes a portion of Houston, Texas.
- Born in New Orleans, Green attended attended Florida A&M University, Howard University and the Tuskegee Institute, though he did not obtain a bachelor’s degree, per his website’s biography.
- Nevertheless he obtained a law degree from the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, before cofounding his own law firm.
- Green was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2004.
What did Rep. Green do during Trump’s speech?
Green stood and shook his cain at the president, shouting that Trump had “no mandate to cut Medicaid,” the New York Times reported.
- Green’s interruptions promoted chants of “USA! USA!” from Republican lawmakers before House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) ordered Green to be removed from the chamber.
- Green told ABC News he had no regrets about his actions and that he had been “following the wishes of conscience.”
- “It’s worth it to let people know that there are some people who are going to stand up [to Trump],” Green told reporters after the incident, per NPR.
What is Rep. Green’s history with Trump?
The veteran lawmaker has a long history of making his disapproval of Trump known.
- During Trump’s first term, Green was among the first Democrats to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump.
- Green forced two procedural votes on impeaching Trump — in 2017 and 2019 — though both ultimately failed, per CNN.
- Last month, the Texas Democrat said he plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Trump again, this time over Trump’s plan to take over Gaza, Politico reported.
Go deeper: Democratic Rep. Al Green ejected from House chamber for heckling Trump
