Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) is removed from the House chamber Tuesday as President Trump begins his State of the Union address. Green holds a sign reading, “BLACK PEOPLE AREN’T APES” as Trump enters.
Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) approaches Green about the sign, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) tries to take it, but Green resists. Security escorts the Texas Democrat out while Republicans applaud. Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) restrains Nehls during the confrontation.
Green tells The Hill the sign references a deleted Trump clip depicting former President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama as apes. “The President has depicted Black people, two prominent Black people, as apes. That cannot go unnoticed,” Green says.
He adds, “It’s an insult to the President, the First Lady, and me as a Black person. I wanted him to know someone has courage to confront him directly.”
Green is unsurprised by being removed. “On some issues, it’s better to stand alone than not stand at all,” he notes.
This is not the first time Green confronts Trump in Congress. During last March’s speech, Green raised his walking cane toward the president, prompting Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) to order his removal. The House later censures Green in a mostly party-line vote.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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