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Screaming match breaks out in House after vote to censure Democrat Al Green

Democrats began singing from the House well as the censure resolution was read.

 

The House voted on Thursday to censure Democrat Al Green over his outburst at President Donald Trump's speech to Congress on Tuesday night.

The Republican-led effort passed 224-198 with two members voting present, one of them being Green. Ten Democrats voted on the resolution to censure Green.

The Texas Democrat was immediately called to the well for a public reading of the resolution by Speaker Mike Johnson. Green and other Democrats surrounding him there began singing the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome."

After Johnson read the censure resolution, a screaming match between House Democrats and Republicans broke out and is still ongoing.

Green was ejected from the joint session on Tuesday after interrupting the president's speech and refusing to sit down despite warnings from Johnson.

By Wednesday morning, several members of the GOP conference were circulating different resolutions to censure Green. Republican Rep. Dan Newhouse was the first to formally introduce a resolution on the House floor.

"Decorum and order are the institutional grounds for the way we do business in the United States Congress, and the sheer disregard for that standard during President Trump's address by the gentleman from Texas is unacceptable," Newhouse said in a statement. "A Member's refusal to adhere to the Speaker's direction to cease such behavior, regardless of their party, has and will continue to be reprimanded in the people's House."

Democrats tried and failed on Wednesday evening to block the censure measure.

Rep. Al Green holds up his cane in front of Speaker Mike Johnson after a vote to censure him in the House chamber in Washington, Mar. 6, 2025. House TV
 Rep. Al Green holds up his cane in front of Speaker Mike Johnson after a vote to censure him in the House chamber in Washington, Mar. 6, 2025. House TV
 

A censure resolution is a formal reprimand by the House for violations of the chamber's code of conduct. A vote to censure a member of the House does not hold any power beyond a public condemnation of the member's behavior and it does not deny the member privileges.

Censuring House members has been historically rare, but in the last few years we've seen members from both political parties use this as a political tool. Green is the fifth member of Congress to be censured in this decade.

Green on Wednesday defended his actions, saying, "I would do it again."

"I am not angry with the speaker. I am not angry with the officers. I am not upset with the members who are going to bring the motions or resolutions to sanction. I will suffer the consequences," he said.

Green's outburst happened within minutes of Trump's address, when the president called his electoral victory a "mandate."

Green, an 11-term Democrat representing the Houston area, stood up and pointed his cane as he shouted, "You have no mandate to cut Medicaid."

Johnson slammed his gavel and gave a warning to lawmakers assembled to maintain decorum, telling Green several times to take his seat. As Green continued to protest, Johnson called for him to be removed.

Green is not the only lawmaker to interrupt a presidential address to Congress. In 2022, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert repeatedly interrupted then-President Joe Biden's speech. Greene did it again during Biden's 2024 State of the Union address.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson listens during a news conference at the Republican National Committee after a meeting of the House Republican Conference, Mar. 4, 2025 in Washington. Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson listens during a news conference at the Republican National Committee after a meeting of the House Republican Conference, Mar. 4, 2025 in Washington. Tierney L. Cross/Getty Images

 

On "Good Morning America" on Wednesday, Johnson defended his decision to have Green removed.

"Al Green was trying to interrupt the entire proceeding. But look, I'll just say this. If the Democrats want a 77-year-old congressman to be the face of their resistance, heckling the president, then bring it on," he said.

Green told ABC News late Tuesday night he was "following the wishes of conscience."

"There are times when it it better to stand alone than not stand at all," Green said. He added, "At some point, we're all going to have to stand up."

Author: Lauren Peller, John Parkinson, and Alexandra Hutzler

Source: ABC GMA

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