The House of Representatives voted Thursday to censure Texas Rep. Al Green after he disrupted President Trump’s address to Congress — and things got messy fast. The resolution passed, 224 to 198, with 10 Democrats siding with Republicans to formally reprimand Green. (For the record, both Green and Alabama Rep. Shomari Figures voted “present.”)
But the 11-term congressman didn’t back down. Instead, Green stood his ground on the House floor, leading a group of mostly progressives and members of the Black Caucus in singing the gospel anthem “We Shall Overcome” as Speaker Mike Johnson read out the censure. The chamber quickly erupted into chaos, with Republicans and Democrats shouting over each other until Johnson was forced to call a recess. Watch how it unfolded right here:
It was a classic Green moment — dramatic, defiant, and highlighting a growing divide among Democrats over how to handle Trump. While high-ranking officials like House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have pushed for a measured response, Green and others argue it’s time to fight fire with fire.
“There comes a time when you cannot allow the president’s incivility to take advantage of our civility,” Green declared in a fiery speech. “It is time for us to take that stand.”
So what exactly did Green say during Trump’s address? What does this censure mean? And which Democrats joined Republicans in admonishing Green? Let’s break it down.
What did Rep. Al Green do while Trump was speaking?
Just minutes into his speech on Tuesday night, Trump brought up the 2024 election, calling his electoral victory a “mandate.” That’s when Green shot up, shaking his cane at the president and shouting, “You have no mandate to cut Medicaid!”
Trump didn’t engage. Instead, he stuck to his script, touting his popular-vote triumph and citing a poll that shows Americans think the country is on the right track. But the 77-year-old congressman kept interrupting, drawing boos — and soon, loud chants of “USA! USA!” — from Republicans.
That’s when Speaker Johnson slammed his gavel. “Members must uphold decorum and stop any further disruptions. That’s your warning,” he declared. But Green kept going, prompting Johnson to call in the sergeant at arms to escort him out of the chamber.
Afterward, Green told ABC he saw this consequence coming, but the punishment felt worthwhile. “There are times when it’s better to stand alone than not stand at all,” he said.
But others viewed it as an inappropriate breach of protocol. Right after Trump’s address, Johnson called for Green to be censured. “If they want to make a 77-year-old congressman the face of their resistance, so be it. But we will not tolerate it on the House floor,” he said.
What is a censure, anyway?
A censure is essentially Congress’s way of publicly slapping someone on the wrist. It’s a formal reprimand for breaking the rules, but there’s no real punishment — this won’t remove anyone from Congress, for example. These censures have become a go-to move for settling political scores, and Republicans have been on the receiving end, too. In 2021, GOP Rep. Paul Gosar was censured for sharing an animated video that depicted him killing Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
But for Green, the fallout might not end there. GOP Rep. Andy Ogles announced Thursday that he’s drafting a privileged resolution — which any member can force to a vote, with leadership support or not — to strip Green and dozens of other Democrats of their committee assignments. Their offense? Standing behind Green and singing as he was censured.
Even if the resolution doesn’t pass, history shows that censured lawmakers often face challenges in securing leadership roles and committee positions. For example, Gosar lost his committee assignments after posting that violent video targeting AOC.
The debate over decorum in Congress is also likely to persist, with Green arguing there’s a double standard. “The decorum you expect from me, you should expect from the president as well,” Green said during his speech on the House floor after the censure.
Which Democrats supported the censure of Rep. Green?
Though Congress is often sharply partisan these days, not all Democrats supported Green’s approach to making a statement. Some voiced frustration, arguing that these dramatic moves only gave Republicans more ammunition for political attacks. Unsurprisingly, as the hard-right House Freedom Caucus swiftly introduced the resolution to censure Green, Trump sent out a fundraising appeal, calling Green out and accusing Democrats of “hating to put America first.”
As the political fallout grew, it wasn’t just Republicans who backed the censure. Ten Democrats — many from moderate swing districts that went for Trump in 2024 — also supported Green’s reprimand.
They include:
- Hawaii Rep. Ed Case
- New York Rep. Tom Suozzi
- California Rep. Jim Costa
- Washington Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez
- Florida Rep. Jared Moskowitz
- California Rep. Ami Bera
- Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan
- Ohio Rep. Marcy Kaptur
- New York Rep. Laura Gillen
- Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes
Ultimately, the support for Green’s censure underscores the widening divide within the Democratic Party, with some prioritizing political pragmatism over solidarity.
